DEPT OF SOLID MINERALS & ALLIED MATTERS HOLDS MAIDEN STAKEHOLDERS’ SENSITIZATION ENGAGEMENT
By: Ifeyinwa Amulu & Salamatu Aminu
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through its Department of Solid Minerals and Allied Matters (DSM&AM), has held its maiden Stakeholders’ Sensitization Engagement in Abuja, bringing together mining operators, quarry owners, federal agencies, and host communities to strengthen synergy and promote responsible mining practices within the territory.
The engagement was aimed at enhancing regulatory compliance, improving environmental standards, and promoting safe and sustainable mineral exploitation across the FCT.
Declaring the event open, the Acting Head of Service of the FCTA, Mrs. Nancy Nathan, warned that the administration would no longer tolerate illegal mining or unsafe practices that endanger lives, degrade the environment, or undermine legitimate operations. Nathan, who was represented by her Special Assistant on Special Duties, Mr. Samaila Hamaila, said the administration had approved the establishment of the FCT Solid Minerals Taskforce to enforce compliance with lawful mining procedures.
She stressed that sustainable mining remained a shared responsibility among all stakeholders and was critical to repositioning the sector for meaningful contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Every operator, mining engineer and service provider must play their part by adhering to laid-down rules, ensuring proper site management, and putting safety and community welfare above short-term profit,” she said.
Nathan described the sensitization engagement as an important platform for miners and quarry operators to align their activities with environmental and operational best practices. She acknowledged the challenges affecting the sector, including bureaucratic bottlenecks and financial constraints, assuring that the administration was working closely with relevant bodies such as the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office to create a more enabling environment for legitimate mining operations.
“The maiden sensitisation programme is a demonstration of our collective resolve to ensure that mining and quarrying activities within the FCT are conducted responsibly, lawfully and sustainably,” she added.
In her opening remarks, the Overseeing Director of DSMAM, Mrs. Chinyelu Obrike, highlighted the solid minerals and quarrying sector’s significant potential for economic diversification, job creation, and infrastructure development. She noted that the benefits of the sector could only be realized when mining activities are carried out safely, responsibly, and with due regard for host communities and the environment.
“When we operate responsibly, we safeguard lives and the environment while ensuring long-term profitability and credibility for the industry,” Obrike said. “The FCT Administration remains committed to transparent regulation, capacity building, and providing an enabling environment for legitimate business growth.”
Presenting the Standard Operation Procedure ( SOP), Mr. Timothy Shemang, Deputy Director, Quarry Mines and Economic Geology Division of DSM&AM, explained that the department was established to ensure full compliance with the FCT Master Plan and the Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) for mining, which were approved by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on March 26, 2025. The SOP covers on-the-spot verification of quarries (yet to commence), monitoring of mining sites, issuance of clearance permits, and collection of annual surface rent according to mining categories.
Similarly, the FCT Mines Officer, Mr. Mohammed Bature, represented by Mr. Adejoh Raphael, Principal Technical Officer at the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, emphasized the solid minerals sector’s strategic role in Nigeria’s economic growth. He noted that the sector’s inclusion on the exclusive legislative list underscores its national importance.
Mr Raphael acknowledged the environmental impacts and revenue leakages associated with mining operations, assuring stakeholders that government is working to address these challenges.
Meanwhile, President of the Quarry Owners Association of Nigeria, FCT Chapter Alh. Nasir Ibrahim who was represented by the secretary Mr Lawal Mohammed , raised concerns over what it described as “double taxation” in the industry. A representative of the association appealed to government to streamline levies imposed on operators.
“The quarry operators are overloaded with double taxes. We pay annual service fees to the Mining Cadastre Office, royalties to the Mines Inspectorate, VAT to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, personal income taxes, and additional levies to the Area Councils and the FCT,” he lamented.
The engagement ended with a renewed commitment from stakeholders to work collaboratively to ensure that mining and quarrying within the FCT are conducted in a transparent, safe, and environmentally responsible manner.
