The Federal Government says it is soliciting the collaboration of states endowed with natural resources, in order to review mining activities.
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, said this when he visited Governor Tanko Al-makura after a tour of some mining sites in Nasarawa state.
He said the purpose of his visit was to review mining activities in the country and the state.
“We had a purpose for the visit, we wanted to examine precisely what is happening to the active mines, some mines have been active and then dormant since the 50’s and what has been done with the abandoned mines, what do we need to do, to reclaim the mines”
The Minister then revealed three templates which the ministry is working onto achieve the roadmap of the ministry.
“The era of producing raw minerals and shipping them out of the state is gone. Anybody who want to mine in Nasarawa or in any other place must be prepared to benefit and process locally, so that they can employ more people and use the minerals for domestic benefits.
“We are very determined to enforce provisions in the mining and minerals act in support of the host communities because we believe that the host communities are being at the receiving end.
“The law asked for consent to be given by the host communities and consent has been abused.
“The governor said the idea is what the state has been clamouring for and if followed will improve the revenue base of the state.
“I want to appeal very passionately that this is very important if it is done I believe the economic status of the state will be lifted”, he said.
With the tour by the Minister and his team to the state and three other states, it is expected that mining activities will take a new turn.
