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President Tinubu: All New Mining Licenses Must Have Local Value
President Tinubu: All New Mining Licenses Must Have Local Value
… Says directive will position Nigeria as critical metals leader
By: Our Reporter
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to only issue mining licenses if they are tied to local value addition.
This is to ensure that young Nigerians are actively engaged in economic activities, acquiring skills and contributing to the overall development of the economy.
The President gave the directive on Wednesday during the opening session of the African Natural Resources & Energy Investment Summit, 2024, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
President Tinubu, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, said his administration is fully committed to creating an enabling business environment to attract investment that encourages ‘value addition’ on solid minerals before they are exported.
“We recognize the losses incurred from exporting crude mineral commodities and understand that it is time to change this narrative. By doing so, we aim to ensure that our teeming youth are actively engaged in economic activities, acquiring skills, and contributing to the nation’s foreign exchange earnings. Therefore, the Ministry will only issue mining licenses if they are tied to local value addition,” the President noted.
President Tinubu noted that his administration’s target in the solid minerals sector is “to make Nigeria a leader in critical metals.”
While commending stakeholders for the establishment of the African Minerals Strategy Group with Nigeria as the first chairman of the initiative, the President said, “We aim to set new standards in the mining industry and ensure that Africa gets an equitable slice of supplying the world with critical metals.
“In our transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy systems, we also recognize the pivotal role that natural gas plays. Natural gas is a transition fuel that will fundamentally restructure our nation’s economy,” he added.
In leveraging opportunities in the renewable energy space, President Tinubu explained that “Nigeria has attracted over $2 billion in investment in the renewable energy sector, making it a fast-growing sector in the economy.
“Our commitment is to continue this trajectory and attract more private sector involvement in the renewable energy space, including manufacturing locally produced solar panels and batteries.”
He, however, emphasized that discussions on the energy transition must also include the significance of the petroleum industry as a cornerstone of the nation’s economy.
“While we strive to embrace renewable and cleaner energy sources, we acknowledge that oil and gas continue to play a vital role in our energy and economic landscape,” he stated.
The President highlighted strategic priorities in the sector to include the goal to attract more investment in the oil and gas industry; grow oil production to 2.1 million barrels a day by December 2024; improve investment in midstream and downstream infrastructure; tackle theft; and hold developers accountable for the highest environmental standards.
President Tinubu further restated the administration’s commitment to manage resources responsibly, minimizing their ecological footprint and maximizing their benefits for the nation.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, announced the government’s strategy under the Renewed Hope Agenda to position Nigeria as a major player in the global minerals market.
“We are committed to transforming Nigeria’s solid mineral sector into a cornerstone for our nation’s economic diversification,” he said.
The minister noted that the government is implementing wide-ranging reforms to create a more attractive environment for investors, with a focus on enhancing transparency, regulatory clarity, and investor confidence.
The plan, he explained, encompasses several key areas, including policy reforms, sustainable practices, infrastructure development, and human capital enhancement. These initiatives are designed to address longstanding challenges in the sector and unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s vast mineral resources.
“This summit represents a significant milestone in our collective journey toward addressing Africa’s vast natural resources and sustainable economic development,” Alake said.
Dignitaries at the summit included the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Mohammed Sani Musa; Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Ishaq Salako; Minister of State for Steel Development, Mr. Uba Maigari Ahmadu, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe.
Others were Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources of Sierra Leone, Julius Mattai; Minister of Mining of South Sudan, Martin Gama Abucha; Minister of Mining of Malawi, Monica Chang’anamuno, MP; Minister of Mines and Energy of Liberia, Wilmot Paye; Deputy Minister of Petroleum, Mines and Geology of Chad, Oumar Moussa, and representatives of the governors of Abia, Ebonyi, Taraba, Kwara, Enugu, Nasarawa and Akwa Ibom States, among others.
President Tinubu: All New Mining Licenses Must Have Local Value
Maiduguri Flood: Zulum Flags off Distribution of Relief Materials to Victims
…Acknowledges Donations from Agric Ministry, NEMA, NNPC
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has flagged off the distribution of relief materials to victims of the devastating Maiduguri flooding taking refuge in about 36 camps across the state capital Maiduguri and environs.
Maiduguri and parts of Jere and Konduga local governments were left submerged in water as a result overflowing water from Alau Dam due to massive rainfall, leaving about 2 million people displaced and properties put at several billions of Naira destroyed.
The flag-off ceremony took place on Monday, at Bakasi camp along Damboa Road in Maiduguri.
The relief materials shared include a bag of 25kg of rice, a carton of pasta and N10,000 cash.
Speaking to journalists at the venue of the distribution, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum decried the fact that many people not affected by the flood are troupling to the IDP camps, thereby making it difficult for smooth distribution of the palliatives to the people who were actually affected.
He said: “We observed that it is no more sustainable to continue receiving people in the camps because many people that were not affected are troupling to the camps.”
In addition to distributing relief materials, the governor also announced plans to comprehensively assess the affected areas, which will inform future interventions.
He stated: “So we decided to mobilise the resources and ensure that each affected victim had the relief items.
“We have also concluded arrangements that we shall do the assessment at the communities to verify the actual number of those that were affected.”
Also speaking, the senator representing Borno Central, Kaka Shehu Lawan, commended the governor for his leadership.
He said: “Let me commend the governor for providing leadership since the flooding started; he was out with his entire team trying to carry out search and rescue and assisting his people. I also joined His Excellency in commending our donors and urging others to complement the government in assisting victims.”
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, highlighted her agency’s interventions for victims of the flood disaster.
She said since the flooding started the agency has been providing shelters and mobile water purifiers to provide clean drinking water to those affected.
Meanwhile, Zulum has acknowledged the receipt of a food donation from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to support the victims of the recent flood disaster.
The occasion was attended by the Senator representing Borno North, Barrister Mohammed Tahir Monguno, members of the House of Representatives, and Borno State Executive Council.
Maiduguri Flood: Zulum Flags off Distribution of Relief Materials to Victims
Gov. Buni Condoles With Sen. Musa Mustapha Over Loss of Brother
By: Our Reporter
Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, has condoled with Sen. Musa Mustapha, over the death of his senior brother, Alh. Tijjani Mustapha.
Gov. Buni who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Baba Malam Wali Mni, described the passage of late Tijjani as a very sad loss.
He said the death of Alh. Tijjani is a huge loss not only to the family but his community and the state.
Gov. Buni prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased “May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Al Jannatu Firdaus.
“May He grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss” Governor Buni further prayed.
The SSG was accompanied by the the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alh. Abdullahi Yusuf Gashua, Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs, Ustaz Babagana Malam Kyari, Permanent Secretary Protocol Alh. Kashim Kalli, the PPS Alh. Liman Ibrahim and DG Press Malam Mamman Mohammed.
Gov. Buni Condoles With Sen. Musa Mustapha Over Loss of Brother
Maiduguri Flood: NCoS Says 281 Inmates Let Loose
By: Michael Mike
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has decried that 281 inmates were let loose by recent devastating Maiduguri flood.
Counting the loss of NCoS in the flood that left over 50 percent of Maiduguri and its environs submerged in water, the spokesman of the Service, Umar Abubakar said: “The unfortunate incident has left scars, bringing down the walls of the correctional facilities, including the medium security custodial centre Maiduguri (MSCC) as well as the staff quarters in the City.”
He revealed that: “Upon the evacuation of inmates by officers of the service with support from sister security agencies to a safe and secure facility, 281 inmates were observed to be missing.”
He added that the service is in custody of their details, including their biometrics.
He said: “The service is working in synergy with other security agencies as both covert and overt deployments have been activated to look out for them, adding that: “Presently, a total of seven (7) inmates have been recaptured and returned to custody, while efforts are on ground to track down the rest and bring them back to safe custody.”
He said: “While this effort is on, the public is assured that the incidence does not impede or affect public safety.”
Maiduguri Flood: NCoS Says 281 Inmates Let Loose
Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment to Transformation of Service Delivery to Nigerians
Maiduguri Flood: Zulum Flags off Distribution of Relief Materials to Victims
Gov. Buni Condoles With Sen. Musa Mustapha Over Loss of Brother
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