The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Architect Olamilekan Adegbite, has warned industry participants that the restriction on the export of raw ore remains in effect and that any violation of it will be treated as economic sabotage by the government.
Nigerian Tribune reported that the Minister stated that small-scale miners will be empowered through the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development as part of its commitment to growing the country’s mining industry as well as making it a significant source of revenue for Nigerians.
The Minister made the statement in Bauchi after he had officially opened the multimillion Naira Kaolin processing facility located in the Bagurja, Gwaram, Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State.
He stated that the law prohibiting the export of unrefined ore is known to Nigerians operating in the mining industry, adding that “if you are working legally in Nigeria under the law, you must come to the Ministry to get a permit.”
He stated, “Right now, what we are doing is that, even though the domestication policy was passed in November 2021, capacity is still expanding in that sector, so if you come to us for an export permit and we realize that what you want to export is in the raw form, we would not allow that because we can make Nigeria better, but like I said, this is an invitation for entrepreneurs businesses from within Nigeria and outside to come and invest.”
