BY JACINTA HYCENTH
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has inaugurated an eight-member committee to resolve gold mining conflict between the Osun State Government and Segilola Resources Operating Limited (SROL).
The committee, he said, is expected to probe the nature of the face-off and provide actionable recommendations for resolving the conflict, with a view to fostering mutual understanding and ensuring sustainable mining practices that benefits both the state and the company.
Alake gave the charge while speaking during the inauguration of the investigative committee at the Ministry, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Membership of the committee consists of: Engr. Imam A. Ganiyu, Director, Mines Inspectorate of the Ministry (Chairman); Dr. Dele Kelvin Oye, representative of NACCIMA (Vice Chairman); Mr. Pwol Dareng, Asst. Director, Organized Private Sector (OPS) of the Ministry (Secretary).
Other members of the Committee include: Dr. Vivian Okono, Director, Mines Environmental Compliance of the Ministry; Mrs. N. C. Odili, Director Legal of the Ministry; Tayo Koleosho, Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman, FIRS; Zubeir S. Abubakar, representative of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and Representatives of Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
During the inauguration, Alake listed the objectives of the Committee to include: identify the root causes of the disagreement between the Osun State Government and Segilola Resources Operating Limited, review the contractual obligations and agreements between both parties, assess the socio-economic, environmental, and legal aspects of the operations, evaluate the impact of the company’s operations on the host communities and the entire state economy, propose solutions that ensure the continuation of mining activities while safeguarding the interests of the state and the affected communities, and make recommendations to enable Government take informed decisions to resolve the lingering dispute between SRSL and OSSG.
The Minister also gave a timeframe of seven (7) days for the probe committee to submit its final report bearing in mind the need to allow the mining company to continue with its operations because of the economic consequences of the closure.
Recall that last week, the Minister in his first briefing on the dispute between both parties, stressed federal government’s efforts towards attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the sector and emphasized the negative impact the indiscriminate closures of mining operations by sub-nationals will pose.
Restated the Ministry’s stand, Alake said, “I did like to reaffirm our position that though mining companies must obey all laws and regulations guiding their operations such as payment of taxes, environmental regulations, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) amongst others, it is our firm belief that sub-national authorities do not possess the power to arbitrarily shut down mining operations because the mining of liquid or solid minerals belongs in the exclusive list, within the purview of the Federal Government, to regulate, legislate and direct.”
In a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Segun Tomori, the Minister underscored the peculiarities of the mining environment and the need to collaborate with sub-nationals, hence the leeway provided for states to apply for mining licenses to participate actively in the mining sector whilst taking advantage of their nominees in the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) to superintend over mining activities in their domain.
“MIREMCO exists in all states of the federation, and they are charged with the responsibility of ensuring compliance of mining companies with the extant regulations and laws. Out of the eight (8) members that constitute MIREMCO in each state, five (5) including the chairman are nominated by State Governments hence states are already substantially involved in the regulation of mining activities, thus, there should be no reason for constitutional violations”, Alake explained.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Mary Ogbe urged states to cooperate with the federal government to avoid disruptions in mining operations, emphasising that such actions send wrong signals to prospective investors and can be a disincentive to the needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) required to develop the sector.
Responding on behalf of the committee, the Vice-Chairman and representative of the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. Dele Oye assured the minister that the panel will serve with utmost integrity in fulfilling its terms of reference.
