Economy

NCMMRD Will Accelerate Growth in Nigeria’s Mining Sector—Fayemi

Published

8 years ago

17/09/2017

By Dipo Olowookere

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has disclosed that the newly inaugurated National Council on Mining and Mineral Resources Development (NCMMRD), will help accelerate growth in the sector through adequate oversight and guidance as well as strategic input from states and host communities.

Mr Fayemi made this known on Thursday in Abuja while speaking at the inaugural meeting of the council members.

The Minister noted that the sector had witnessed an unprecedented consistent growth in the last two years, adding however that the growth would be accelerated with the emergence of the National Council.

He charged the council members, majorly state commissioners and Permanent Secretaries in the Ministries of Mining and Minerals, on the need to be alive to the responsibility of wealth and job creation.

He further said with their dedication, the sector would take a major leap in the quest to make Nigeria a mining nation.

The inaugural meeting was also attended by the Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello; Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bawa Bawari; Minister of State for Works, Power and Housing, Mustapha Baba Shehuri; Gwom Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba; the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Dr Abdul Rahman Ado Ibrahim, members of the National Assembly and representatives of international agencies.

Mr Fayemi said the sector was primed to experience massive growth over the long term through a robust institutional and governance framework that provides adequate oversight and guidance, stronger participation and shared responsibility from the states and communities as well as building a solid archive and database of geo-sciences research and data that actively encourages investor participation.

He added that through the council, the sector would enjoy a thriving enabling environment that provides the key support infrastructure and services that enables the industry to flourish.

“I am convinced that Nigeria’s Mineral Resource endowments can be optimally exploited for the benefit of Nigerians through collaborative governance of the Mining Sector by governments and communities at all levels – this event is a huge step in that direction and we appreciate you for being a part of it,” the Minister said.

Speaking further, the Minister noted that the ministry had recorded a major breakthrough in funding and in providing access to capital and financing to artisanal and small scale miners.

“Already, we achieved a 300 percent increase in revenue (royalties and fees) between 2015 and 2016, and as at July of this year, the sector had already surpassed the entire revenue of N2 billion generated for the whole of 2016.” he said.

Mr Fayemi identified the signing of a ‘Modified Concession Agreement’ between the Federal Government and Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, which resolved the protracted litigations surrounding the ownership of Ajaokuta and NIOMCO, as one of the major achievements of the ministry.

“The implication of the signing is that ownership of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited has now reverted to the FGN, and we can now proceed to engage a new core investor with the financial and technical capacity to run the steel complex.

The operationalisation of ASC will provide the needed inputs to support the infrastructure requirements of the country and lead to import substitution, and save the country about 3.3 billion dollars annually spent on the importation of steel products.

“To stem the illegal trading of minerals, the ministry has registered over thirty Mineral Buying Centers, and enacted the Revenue and Reporting Compliance Agreement with the Nigeria Customs Service, which has improved the policing of mineral exports.

“With the successful hosting of the inaugural edition of the NCMMRD, we have covered a major milestone in the implementation of the Roadmap for the sector, and at the same time set in motion a chain of positive outcomes. As we look to the future, we remain focused on working with stakeholders to deliver on all other provisions of the Roadmap. He added.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Minister of FCT, Mallam Mohammed Bello, had lauded the ministry for the recorded growth in the mining sector, adding that he was optimistic that the sector would witness greater growth with the coming of the Mining Council.

Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said the necessary ingredients of growth were being put in place in the sector, adding that Kebbi State, though noted for its rice cultivation in recent time, is keen on making maximum gain from abundant gold deposit in parts of the state.

Also speaking the Chairman of Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Gwom Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, urged government to show more concern for the environmental issues and impact on communities arising from years of mining

Economy

Nigeria Plans New Tax Incentives to Boost Agriculture, Energy Investments

Published

8 hours ago

23/04/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian government is planning to offer tax incentives to firms investing in key sectors such as agriculture and energy to boost projected growth.

This is part of a new scheme known as the Economic Development Incentive (EDI), which will address long-standing inefficiencies in the current Pioneer Status Incentive (PSI).

The proposed investment-driven incentive framework is designed to stimulate real economic activity by tying tax relief directly to verifiable investments and part of the country’s ongoing tax reform efforts.

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this in a keynote address at BusinessDay’s Policy Intervention Series held on Tuesday, April 22 in Lagos.

He said a review of the PSI revealed structural flaws that have undermined its effectiveness.

“Once granted a pioneer status, companies may import goods classified as pioneer products tax-free, effectively allowing them to operate without tax obligations—even with minimal value addition to the economy,” he said.

The incentives will mainly be in the form of a multiyear tax credit that companies can use to reduce what they owe the government, Mr Oyedele further explained.

He said investments in sectors including agriculture, energy and manufacturing will enjoy the tax credit based on a prescribed minimum amount of investment for a period ranging from 10 to 20 years.

Mr Oyedele also reiterated that the country has initiated reforms to boost tax revenue as a share of gross domestic product to 18 per cent by 2027 from 13.6 per cent in 2024, adding these proposals seek to drive growth in priority sectors of the economy.

Also, investors in utility projects like power, waterways and ports will have to invest at least N200 billion to qualify for the tax credit.

He explained that if a company invests N10 billion in Year 1, it earns a N500 million tax credit each year for five years and if an additional N5 billion is invested in Year 2, that new investment begins its own five-year 5 per cent cycle—N250 million annually until Year 6 and if the company continues investing progressively, each round of investment starts a new five-year cycle of tax credits, potentially extending the benefit period up to 10 years.

The tax maven further stated that if a business has a N15 million tax liability in a given year and applies N25 million in tax credits, its liability is wiped out entirely, with the N10 million balance rolled over to subsequent years and that if a company fails to follow through on its investment plan or halts capital deployment, unused credits are forfeited and this accountability mechanism ensures that only consistent and credible investments are rewarded.

Economy

Unlisted Securities Exchange Slips 0.35% Post-Easter Break

Published

11 hours ago

23/04/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange slid by 0.35 per cent on Tuesday, April 22 after the return from the Easter break, with the market capitalisation falling by N6.79 billion to N1.917 trillion from the N1.924 trillion recorded last Thursday, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) declining by 11.60 points to 3,274.78 points from the previous session’s 3,286.38 points.

Yesterday, the share price of Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc went down by 60 Kobo to close at N21.50 per unit versus the preceding session’s N22.10 per unit and Geo-Fluids Plc lost 18 Kobo to end at N1.62 per share, in contrast to last Thursday’s N1.80 per share.

On the flip side, the price of FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc appreciated by 16 Kobo to quote at N37.80 per unit versus the previous trading day’s N37.64 per unit.

During the session, there was a 40.5 per cent increase in the volume of securities transacted to 174,634 units from the 124,266 units traded in the previous trading day, but the value of transactions slumped by 43.9 per cent to N2.86 million from N5.1 million, and the number of deals dropped by 48.4 per cent to 16 deals from 31 deals.

At the close of business, Impresit Bakolori Plc remained the most active stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with a turnover of 533.9 million units worth N520.9 million, followed by Okitipupa Plc with the sale of 153.6 million units for N4.9 billion, and Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc with 71.2 million units valued at N24.2 million.

Also, Okitipupa Plc remained the most valued stock on a year-to-date with the sale of 153.6 million valued at N4.9 billion, trailed by FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc with a turnover of 14.8 million units worth N572.0 million and Impresit Bakolori Plc with a turnover of 533.9 million units sold for N520.9 million.

Economy

Naira Crumbles to N1,603/$1 at Official Market

Published

12 hours ago

23/04/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

It was a bad day for the Naira on Tuesday, April 22 as its value plummeted against the United States Dollar by N3.23 or 0.2 per cent at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM).

It was the first trading session in the official market after the long Easter Break which started last Friday.

The Nigerian Naira was exchanged with the greenback yesterday at N1,603.16/$1, in contrast to the preceding trading day’s rate of N1,599.93/$1.

However, the local currency closed flat against the Pound Sterling and the Euro in the spot market at N2,120.24/£1 and N1,817.69/€1, respectively.

At the parallel market, the Naira appreciated against the US Dollar during the session by N10 to sell for N1,610/$1 compared with the previous trading session’s N1,620/$1.

In the cryptocurrency market, most of the tokens improved on Tuesday, buoyed by renewed investor optimism and fresh hopes of an ease in US-China trade tensions.

Earlier on Tuesday, remarks from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who reportedly told investors at a closed-door JPMorgan event that the tariff standoff with China was unsustainable.

Mr Bessent said de-escalation would come “in the very near future,” characterizing current conditions as a “trade embargo.” However, he cautioned that a more comprehensive deal between the two nations could take even years.

Then President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters in the White House later, said that US tariffs on China “will come down substantially” from the current 145 per cent level, allaying concerns of a spiraling trade war.

Ethereum (ETH) jumped by 10.6 per cent to $1,784.93, Dogecoin (DOGE) appreciated by 10.3 per cent to $0.1812, Cardano (ADA) added 9.9 per cent to trade at $0.6971, and Solana (SOL) gained 7.9 per cent to close at $151.25.

Further, Ripple (XRP) grew by 7.5 per cent to $2.25, Bitcoin (BTC) expanded by 6.2 per cent to $93,822.95, Litecoin (LTC) increased by 5.8 per cent to $84.22, and Binance Coin (BNB) went up by 2.3 per cent to $617.20, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) sold flat at $1.00 each.