The Federal Government has increased the rates and charges for all activities in the mining sector.
Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the new charges on Thursday in Abuja, expressed concerns over non-remittance by some operators.
Alake said that mining operators in the industry were making huge amounts of money but refused to remit them to the Federal Government.
“Today, we are taking a major step in the efforts to implement the seven-point agenda.
“This is to position the sector for economic consolidation by announcing a new regime of rates and charges for various services of the department and agencies of the ministry.”
The minister said the development was in view of the introduction of qualitative measures being implemented in recent times.
He added that it would raise the level of services, improve traffic of transactions, and develop infrastructure.
“For instance, we supervised the successful implementation and conclusion of the mineral sector support for economic diversification minddiver project.”
He said the mining sector involved Mining Cadastral Office (MCO), the agency responsible for licensing, which acquired the new mining information system, Electronic Mining Cadastre System, and the EMC+ portal.
“This enables a 24-hour application and administration system that accelerated the rate of application and access of applicants to MCO, adding that the system had improved transparency.
Alake said the system would also encourage more interest and boost participation in the sector, thereby giving stakeholders confidence to invest in it.
He said that the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) had acquired integrated base data accessible to the public.
“The stakeholders have been enjoying the mining sector; it is therefore equitable that those who invest in the mining sector and make profits from it should be on the front lines of government’s efforts to recoup rather than pass it on to poor Nigerians.”
Alake said that there were about 268 items in the rate regime, adding that it would be difficult to mention all the items.
