TheCable

Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, said miners and operators in the sector owe the federal government more than N2 trillion.

The minister who was represented by Kutman Hosea Ali, acting zonal mines officer, north-west zonal office, said the miners owe Kaduna state more than N300 billion.

Alake said this during a meeting with licensed minerals holders, laterite/sand operators in Kaduna, on Thursday.

According to him, the administration of President Bola Tinubu is determined to halt the activities of illegal miners across the country.

Alake also described the activities of illegal miners as a huge crime against Nigeria and Nigerians, which he said, was unacceptable.

“Miners and operators owed the federal government more than N2 trillion, while in Kaduna state, it’s over N300 billion,” he said.

“We have made it very clear that in Kaduna State, every operator should make bold steps and clear their debt.”

The minister also directed the special mines taskforce activated in Kaduna to clamp down on illegal miners and nonpayment of royalties which must be paid monthly as well as other taxes to the government.

He also faulted the non-remittance of money collected as royalties and taxes on mineral resources to the federal government, warning that defaulting states would henceforth be penalised.

According to him, mining is on the exclusive list as such it is only controlled by the federal government while the state and local governments are not allowed to collect royalties or any mining tax.

He said state governments and local governments are entitled to collect other taxes such as ground rent and other taxes but they are not to collect royalties and tax on mining

“Any state government or any local government that collects money in the name of royalty or mineral tax will be deducted from the source allocated to the state,” he said.

“The special mines taskforce has been activated in Kaduna state and they had commenced operation on the war against illegal mining and nonpayment of royalties which must be paid monthly as well as other taxes to the government of Nigeria.”

Alake, however, warned miners and operators against going to the field without a mining license while noting that those who had obtained their license should report to the mines office, Kaduna, to collect permit to mobilise to the site.