The Director-General of the Office, Mr. Mohammed Amate, who spoke
interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, listed the
companies as Kogi Mines, an Australian Mining Company based in Kogi,
which had concluded its four-year exploration exploration programmes and
would commence the mining of iron ore in Agbaja in the state this
year. The company had also delineated more than 500 million tonnes of
iron ore. Segilola Nig. Ltd would also begin the mining of gold in
Iperindo area of the IIesha Schist belt of Osun State. Amate said that
so far, the companies had carried out the same exercise and delineated
more than one million ounces of gold in the area.
Mines
Geotechniques Nig. Ltd and Northern Numero Resources Ltd, both
Australian companies, would begin the mining of gold this year in Kebbi.
Dangote Group was also to conclude its coal exploration in 2015 and to
immediately commence mining of coal in Kogi and Benue States.
The
company which had been working towards commencing coal mining in both
states, held mining titles covering limestone, coal and gypsum. West
African Polaris Investment Ltd, a Chinese company, would commence mining
of tin and columbite in Nasarawa State while Tongyi Allied and Mineral
Services Ltd, another Chinese company, would begin mining of lead/zinc
in Wasa, Plateau State. The two companies would commence major mining
operation in various locations in the two states as they have delineated
their reserves.
He
further added 169 Small Scale Mining Companies had already begun mining
gemstone, gold, lead/zinc, columbite/Tantalite among others across the
country. Amate advised the miners to carry out their operations legally,
pay their fees promptly to the government as well as reclaim mines
sites after activities as provided by the law. He went on to sound a
note of warning to the miners against discharging harmful materials into
the environment that could pose danger to lives. He reiterated the
government’s commitment to undertake these projects and regretted that
so much money had been lost to illegal mining activities.
