NAN-H-2
Minerals
By Zubairu Idris
Katsina, Nov. 3, 2016 (NAN) Mr Ken Kayama, a Federal Commissioner in the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has identified the solid minerals sector, as the most viable alternative in diversifying the nation’s economy.
He made this remark on Wednesday in Katsina, when he paid a courtesy call on Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State.
Kayama said that investigations by the RMAFC revealed that each of the 36 states of the federation had at least one type of solid minerals and in most cases, in commercial quantities.
“However, a lot is needed to be done by both the Federal and State Governments to reposition the sector to enable it to achieve the desired objectives.
“That is because the sector contributes less to the Federation Account, in spite of the high number of mining leases granted to companies and individuals across the country,’’ he said.
The RMAFC commissioner noted that for places as Katsina State, which had many registered miners, the revenue generated by the sector between 2007 and 2014 was N58.1 million.
According to him, this is rather insignificant and as a result, what is paid to Katsina State as 13 per cent derivation is just N8.5 million.
Kayama said that the situation could be attributed to either the licensee companies are not fully operating in the sector or they are not paying appropriate fees to the State Government’’.
He said that the commission’s visit to the states was to encourage State Governments to register and monitor the activities of companies operating in their domains, so as to improve their Internally Generated Revenue.
The commissioner said that the commission would also obtain relevant information on the number of mining leases issued to each operator, their expiry dates, mineral type and the amount of fees paid, as well as royalties due to the state.
In his remarks, Masari said that the state was blessed with some abandoned mineral resources, which could assist the state to diversify its economy.
Masari, represented by his deputy, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, said that the State Government was open to advice on how best it could harness such resources and develop its economy.
“We give more emphasis to agriculture and the solid mineral sectors because Katsina State is blessed with both agricultural produce and solid minerals,’’ he added. (NAN)
ZI/PIO/PIO
Edited by Idonije Obakhedo