Sam Ikeotuonye
Lagos — Dangote Plc and the Bua Group accounted for the highest production of solid minerals in the country in one year, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, revealed in its latest solid minerals sector report.
The report for the year 2021, indicated that Dangote Plc produced a total 28.8 million tons of solid minerals in the period under review while Bua accounted for 8.4 million tons; Lafarge, 4.3 million tons; and Zeberced, 3.3 million tons.
NEITI reported that the minerals with the largest production volume in the year under review were limestone, clay, granite, laterite, and sand, adding that the total volume of solid minerals used or sold in 2021 was 76.28 million tons.
The NEITI report also pointed out that Ogun State recorded the highest production in the year under review, with a total of 17.5 million tons followed by Kogi State with 16.3 million tons and Edo with 8 million tons. The least production volume was recorded by Borno State with 25,500 tons.
NEITI also noted that there were increases in the number of licenses issued within the period under review. A total of 2,045 licenses were issued with exploration licenses accounting for 840 (increase of 62.79%); Small Scale Mining Lease, SSML, 771; Quarry Lease 255; Reconnaissance Permit 139; and Mining leases 40.
The solid minerals sector report also revealed: “The seven (7) strategic minerals in the sector contributed a total of ₦1.42 billion in royalty payments, with limestone being the dominant contributor at ₦1.03 billion (73.07%). NEITI was optimistic that the commencement of full operations at the Dangote cement plant in Okpella, Edo State, royalty revenue from limestone would definitely increase and therefore called on the government through the MMSD, to urgently review the solid minerals roadmap and align it with current market realities, implement sustainable strategies to boost revenue from other strategic minerals and reduce reliance on single minerals like limestone.”
NEITI reported that while there was an increase of 85 percent in the number of artisanal miners operators, from 1,273 in 2020 to 2,336 in 2021 across the 6 geo-political zones of the country, there are no commensurate data in the areas of production, royalty payments, exports, etc. to support this increase in operators.
Similarly, according to NEITI, employment data showed that the sector’s contribution to employment in 2021 was 25,618, with 596 expatriates while 25,022 were Nigerians. In relation to gender, 92% of jobs were occupied by men, while women occupied 8%. No physically challenged person was recorded as being employed in the sector in 2021, according to the agency.
