President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday assured local Miners of government support in tackling challenges facing mining activities in Nigeria

The President stated this when Miners in Nigeria under the umbrella of Miners Association of Nigeria, presented their challenges to the President at the presidential villa, Abuja.

The President assured the miners of government’s committed to encouraging mining activities in the country, adding that the people that the administration will look into the plights of the miners.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Bawa Bwari,disclosed that the Miners commended the President for what we have done in the mining sector. Government is putting in place some incentives that are encouraging mining activities in Nigeria.

According to him, “ They came to show their appreciation and also to complain about what they are encountering, especially in states where state governments are charging them multiple taxes and some of their activities are disrupted by state government agencies. In fact, sometimes their mines are closed down.

“This, we are talking with the state governments involved. We intend to take up this matter at the National Economic Council (NEC); where state governments should know their limits and they should know they are also beneficiaries of whatever mining activities is going on because 13 percent derivation is supposed to go to state governments for mining activities taking place there.”

Reiterating that the government has recorded major achievements in the mining sector, Bwari was particularly elated that the mining of high quality led in Bauchi State among other things.

“For example, we have a company called Symbol Mining. It has started modern mining in Bauchi. It is mining lead at 32 percent grade compared to the world average of 6 percent. This is a good development for Nigeria because mining is structured in such a way that any discovery like that will attract bigger mining to come to Nigeria,” Bwari said.

Underscoring the importance of mining to Nigeria, he said: “We have no choice than to encourage mining for one reason; our population. When you consider our population and you discover that we have more than 44 minerals cutting across all the 774 local governments, this will create activities and create opportunities for our teeming population.”

https://www.miningng.com/buhari-assures-local-miners-of-support/

Sai baba all the way