Nigeria Should Eliminate Community Consent Form for Mining Licences – Gov Sule

• Governor Sule called for the removal of community consent as the sole requirement for mining licenses to increase state revenue generation

• Minister Alake stated the government is prioritizing geospatial data and remote sensing to enhance mineral exploration and optimize investment decisions

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has called for the removal of the community consent form as the sole requirement for granting mining licences in Nigeria.

Speaking at the 60th annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), he noted that this requirement limits states from generating adequate revenue from the sector.

He urged professionals to introduce innovations that would transform the mining industry, emphasizing that Nigeria’s wealth lies in mining, not oil.

“So, we must go beyond the consent letter to grant companies mining licences. When we realized the challenges in Nasarawa State, we introduced an executive order requiring all commercial miners to process their minerals within the state,” he explained.

He added that when he assumed office, the state had 416 mining licences but generated less than N1 million in revenue from the sector. The new law initially led to opposition, but Nasarawa has since become home to numerous processing plants.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, stated that the government prioritises geospatial data and remote sensing technologies to enhance mineral exploration, reduce uncertainties, and optimize investment decisions.

He also noted that efforts are being made to establish mineral processing hubs to add value and reduce dependence on raw mineral exports.

Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mary Ogbe, the minister reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to fostering innovation-driven growth in the mining sector.

NMGS President Prof. Akinade Shadrach Olatunji stressed that agriculture, combined with innovative geoscience and mining solutions, could transform Nigeria’s economy.

He highlighted that industrialized nations have long recognized this, investing heavily in geoscience and mining agencies staffed by top experts, sometimes recruiting globally to ensure optimal performance.