Abuja, Jan. 30, 2024 – Dele Alake, the Minister of Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, on Tuesday said government had given permits to 499 dealers to the buy and sell solid minerals in the country.
He announced this at conference on solid minerals in Abuja on Tuesday.
Alake listed the minerals for which permits were given to include lithium, gold, tin, coal, tantalite, iron ore, kaolin, feldspar, beryl, barite, columbite, mica, and aquamarine.
He said: “The Ministry continues to facilitate the processing of applications for permits to refine minerals and to process and purchase. Last year, no fewer than 499 licenses were granted to applicants involved in the business of purchasing and sales of minerals.
“Predictably, applications for the purchase and sale of Lithium topped the list with 146 licences, followed by Gold, 91; Tin, 46 and Coal, 32. Other minerals for which licences were granted include Tantalite, Iron Ore, Kaolin, Feldspar, Beryl, baryte, Columbite, Mica and Aquamarine.”
“Central to our efforts to reposition the sector is the establishment of a private-sector driven, Nigerian Solid Minerals Corporation. This is as the minister noted that the process of creating the legislation for the institution has begun.
“On February 12 and 13, 2024, the Solid Minerals Committee of the House of Representatives will hold the first policy dialogue on the proposed law to create the corporation.
“In working with the legislature to establish the legal and legitimate foundation for the institution, our resolve to ensure that a share structure in line with a private sector- led strategy in which the Federal Government will hold not more than 25 per cent, the Nigerian citizens will, by public shares hold 25 per cent and private investors, each with a maximum of 10 per cent of the shares of the N1billion share capital, will be achieved.” (GBN)
