“We must discourage the export of raw minerals. Refining, processing, or beneficiation is the only real way to maximize our mineral wealth and create good-paying jobs and opportunities for our people.”

This is the position canvassed today, July 1, by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the maiden edition of the (virtual) Strategic Engagement on Sustainable Mining, Titled: “Resurrecting Our Buried Prosperity” in Abuja.

Professor Osinbajo stressed: “it is clear that unless we get the management of our solid mineral resources right, we would continue living in the terrible paradox of suffering in the midst of plenty.  The problems are numerous but solvable. The principal issue is that of the challenges of implementing the regulatory framework.”

The Vice President, who praised the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development for driving the initiative, advised that the strategic engagement should lead to the production of or the fine-tuning of a clear working document that spells out with clarity, the roles and responsibilities of each party: the Federal, the States and the Local Governments, as well as the mining communities.

“Even where these roles and duties have been defined in existing legislation, this is an opportunity to simplify the language, explain the relationships, take input on implementation concerns, and get everyone’s buy-in.”

Speaking on the effective collaboration among all levels of government to ensure the proper regulation of mining activities, Osinbajo said that it will ensure that the country fully reaps the rewards from its largely untapped wealth.
“The Federal Government cannot effectively regulate mining without actively, and deliberately working with States, Local Governments and mineral-producing communities.
“The Federal Government, States and Local Government have to jointly develop working arrangements to ensure that mining is attractive to investors, profitable for States and Local Governments, not just from proceeds but also from personal income tax paid to States by mine workers and staff of mining companies.
“This engagement is one that could be a game-changer for mining in Nigeria, and it could mean a new era of huge earnings and prosperity for our people from our mining resources. But this will only happen if we adopt a collaborative and cooperative approach. If we work together, we will reap far more than we could ever gain by working alone.”

Osinbajo, who stressed the need for the development of the Mining sector to drive national development, referenced the huge iron ore deposits, gold, bitumen, tin, coal, among other precious minerals deposits in different parts of the country.

He stated that sustainable mining activities, will further help reduce the country’s dependence on crude oil to grow a productive and competitive economy, noting that with deposits in excess of 42 billion tonnes, Nigeria has the second-largest bitumen deposit in the world and almost twice the country’s oil reserves.
“How about iron ore? We have the 12th largest iron ore deposit in the world, more than 3billion tons. Besides, the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) confirms that Nigeria has over 44 mineral deposits in commercial quantities in over 500 locations across the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. These minerals range from industrial and energy minerals, such as iron ore and coal, to gemstones, including sapphires, rubies, and emeralds.
“So buried in the ground in various parts of Nigeria are riches that could ensure that no Nigerian is unemployed, underfed, or neglected. And this is not mere speculation because, before the discovery of oil, Nigeria developed its infrastructure, roads, rail, dams, provided free education in the western region for example, from the proceeds of minerals, agriculture and taxes.”

Professor Osinbajo said that the Buhari administration has taken some major steps to further develop the country’s Mines and Steel sector, including in the areas of security.
“As part of the the Federal Government’s post-COVID-19 efforts to preserve existing jobs and create new opportunities, N6 billion was approved for the Mining Sector under the current Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP), for the development of Mineral Processing Clusters across the six geo-political zones of the country to promote large-scale investment in mineral exploitation.
“On security in mining areas, as part of broad efforts to re-engineer the national security architecture to more efficiently confront our challenges, the President recently approved a raft of measures aimed at ensuring the security of mining concerns and mining sites.
The Vice President said  that these measures, which will be driven by the Office of the National Security Adviser in concert with the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, “will be hugely significant in creating an enabling environment for the growth of the sector.
“There must also be a framework for ensuring that environmental degradation is remedied.

Nigerian minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has described the method with which the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Nnamdi Kanu was rearrested as the most classic operation of its kind in the world.

This was even as he assured that Kanu would be treated fairly, the same way he was treated which he abused by jumping bail and fleeing the country.

“It is interesting that many are suddenly calling for a fair trial for Kanu as if he didn’t get one before he decided to jump bail and flee. However, I can assure you that the fair deal that Kanu denied many of the victims of the violence which he willfully instigated through his broadcasts and tweets will not be denied him.”

Laid Mohammed, who spoke to newsmen today, July in Abuja, also assured that all the collaborators in the atrocities committed by Kanu against Nigeria, will be apprehended and brought to book.

“We can tell you that the forensic investigation carried out so far has revealed a treasure trove of information on the proscribed IPOB leader and his collaborators.

“While the investigation continues, we assure you that none of the collaborators, irrespective of their standing in the society, will be spared. ” They will all face the full wrath of the law for their activities that challenge our nation’s sovereignty and threaten its unity. No one, no matter how highly placed, is bigger than the country.”

The minister recalled that Kanu, who is facing an 11-count charge of treason, treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms, among others, jumped bail in 2017 and left the country.

He commended the professionalism, diligence, patriotism and painstaking efforts of the security and intelligence agencies.

“We also thank the sister international agencies that collaborated with us to pull off this arrest.

“It will interest Nigerians to know that for over two years, our security and intelligence agencies were on the trail of the proscribed IPOB leader as he lived a five-star life across several countries, travelling on chartered private jets, living in luxury apartments and turning out in designing clothes and shoes. Of course, as we all saw, he was wearing an attire made by Fendi, a luxury Italian fashion brand, when he was arrested.”

On the speculations on how the re-arrest was made and in which country the hitherto fugitive leader of the proscribed IPOB was rearrested, Lai Mohammed said: “what we can tell you, once again, is that the re-arrest was made possible by the diligent efforts of our security and intelligence agencies, in collaboration with countries with which we have obligations. We continue to respect and honour the obligations.”