JIGAWA GOVT INAUGURATES MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

JIGAWA GOVT INAUGURATES MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

In a bid to enhance the development of solid mineral resources in Jigawa State, the State Government has inaugurated an eight-member Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) aimed at transforming solid minerals into value-added products.

Inaugurating the Committee, the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Bala Ibrahim, emphasized that solid minerals could significantly strengthen the industrial base of the state by fostering the establishment of small, medium, and large-scale industries.

Malam Bala Ibrahim explained that the Committee’s formation aligns with Section 19 of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA) 2007, which mandates the establishment of such committees at the state level. He stated, “This initiative is designed to strengthen the state’s role in managing mining-related activities, safeguard statutory interests in land usage, enhance internally generated revenue through applicable surface rents and environmental levies, and promote harmonious relationships between mining operators and host communities.”

The Committee will serve as a crucial platform for collaboration among stakeholders in the mining sector, advising the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development and the Executive Governor of Jigawa State on matters related to mineral resource exploitation. It will oversee the implementation of the state’s revenue framework, which includes collecting surface rents, environmental compliance fees, local haulage levies, and other legitimate charges associated with sand dredging, quarrying, and mineral extraction activities.

Additionally, MIREMCO will facilitate negotiations and the implementation of Community Development Agreements (CDAs) between mining operators and host communities to promote peaceful coexistence, prevent conflicts, and ensure that mining communities benefit from local activities.

Another key responsibility of the Committee will be to support the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining operators into legally recognized and taxable cooperatives, thus promoting responsible mining practices and enhancing the sector’s contribution to the state’s economy.

The approved composition of the Committee includes Engineer Abubakar Galadima Laya as Chairman, nominated by Governor Malam Umar A Namadi, with approval from the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development. Other members include representatives from the Ministry of Lands, Mines Officer for the State, Ministry of Agriculture, Survey General, Local Government Councils, State Environmental Department, and the Federal Ministry of Environment in Jigawa State.

The operationalization of MIREMCO is expected to yield significant economic benefits for Jigawa State through a structured framework for collecting legitimate surface rents, environmental remediation levies, and haulage fees from mining and quarrying operations.

This initiative aims to strengthen environmental governance, improve community relations, encourage responsible mineral resource exploitation, and increase the state’s internally generated revenue without infringing on the statutory royalty rights of the Federal Government.

Malam Bala Ibrahim reiterated that the Jigawa State Government remains committed to promoting responsible and sustainable mineral resource development, protecting the environment, enhancing the welfare of host communities, and maximizing the economic benefits of the state’s abundant mineral resources for overall development.

Responding, the Chairman of the Committee, Engineer Abubakar Galadima Laya expressed gratitude to Gov. Umar Namadi for the opportunity to serve on the Committee and assured that, members of the Committee would strive to justify the confidence placed in them.