LIVE UPDATES
The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) has pleaded with the Federal Government to be considerate with its licence rates review.
The appealed was made by MAN National President, Dele Ayanleke, yesterday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. FG had on May 2, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, announced plans to review rates of mining licences and other sundry fees payable by operators in Nigeria.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed this during a consultative meeting with stakeholders in the mining industry in Abuja.
He stressed that the review had become inevitable if the government was to effectively fulfil its obligations of providing an enabling environment for mining operations while raising more revenue.
Alake said: “For us to continue to ensure that we secure the mining environment and keep putting in place measures that will ease the operational difficulties and challenges that confront miners, we need to review the rates of mining licenses and other sundry fees.
“We felt that we couldn’t just do this without letting you know because, invariably, you are the players in the industry.” But Ayanleke said the association is aware that factors like inflation and the exchange rate have increased the cost of running the government.
He pleaded despite these factors, i government should be fair when determining the new rates.
