Different events unfolded as the ministers were appointed. Mr. Dele Alake for the Ministry of Solid Mineral and Mr. Shuaibu Audu was also appointed as Minister for Steel Development.
Mr. Dele Alake took the momentum of the operation to another level with a giant leap, when he made clear that the dwindling fortune of the mineral sector can only be revived if the sanity within the sector is cleared. In light of this, he brought seven points agenda that serve as new measures to clear the sector - a good measure indeed to revitalize the sector. Meanwhile, the steel development sector was a bit quiet, which I want to believe the minister is putting strategies together to revive our dear beloved Ajaokuta Steel.
The year 2023, came with a bit of canvassing for investors all around the world to come to Nigeria and invest in the solid mineral sector. This move was applauded by many, as it was seen as the right step in the right direction towards revitalization of the economy.
It is believed that the coming of foreign investors will open up employment opportunities for teaming youth, improve the standard of living for the common man, gross domestic product (GDP) for our dear nation, and lastly turn the fortune of the country around.
Almost a year into the helm of an affair, we are still hopeful and expectant that the work into this initiative will bring good fruit.
One area where I see frustration is the prolonged application of a small-scale license I already put up immediately when this government came to power. I have not seen the grant and yet the application is over 6 months. All efforts to know what is going on prove the application is in a good position, but has not been granted. This same application used to be easy before now.
Could we say the recently revoked licenses were part of the reason for the delay?
Good! talking about the revoked licenses. I would say it's a good thing to have revoked license based in sanitation, if not for the fact that some other good operators (Licensed companies) are also affected. The claim that publication was ahead for all license operators to pay before due date is yet to be claimed to be true. It was said that information were sent ahead, and operators that complied were the only ones soared. In my own experience no one has told me they saw the publication. This later led to serious commotion. It is a known fact that renewal of Exploration license is usually twice before it moves to Mining lease. What we have now is that you have to move to Mining Lease with the claim that Exploration License is too much in the circulation. The sanitation is affecting the good times now, or could the saying that “when sinners are winch hunt, the righteous too are not safe” be applied in this situation? How do we describe a company that had EL (Exploration license) still intact being revoked all because a due was not paid, in which the information reached them late about the due date? Even after payment, the license was still revoked in which the license was within the stipulated time of issuance. I can't blame the government, the truth is that the bad ones are gradually making life difficult for the good ones.
It will be too early to say we are not moving forward, but the foot print of recent developments showing some companies leaving the shores of the country is a call to attention. How do we juxtapose bringing new investors while other companies are leaving? It's somehow confusing. I stand to be corrected, if I have a superior argument.
As long as we also pray for a viable sector, we are WAITING as investor, operator, artisan, and stakeholders.…..
This is well delivered
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