The availability of immense solid Mineral in Edo is no longer in doubt as we have proven reserve of Dolomite, limestone, feldspar, kaolin, Granite , Gold , Sand among others. This becomes more authenticated when Journal of National research Volume 3, No.11 published in 2013 shows the distribution of limestone, dolomite and Marble within Akoko Edo, okpella, igara, atte, Etsako to mention few geographical locations. This was the view point discribled by Gov. Godwin Obaseki in December 18, 2016 on Nigeria Observer news that "Edo solid minerals can generate more revenue than oil".
But to strengthen the investor in the mining industry require a clear Road Maps for a sustainable funding.
Who are the Miners?
A Miner is someone or a company having relevant Mining Rights, permits or licences from the Federal Government that are currently working no matter how small the level of operations is. Hence this Narrow our search to active Title Holders and not Lease Speculators or illegal Miners. In providing the Frame Work, the Title holders in Edo State is about 45 Companies. Hence , A Funding scheme will be Target at this Audience.
Most Mineral Title holders are willing to change this country economy story if they have the required equipment (Mining weapons). Mining as a sector depends on equipment and machinery, most operations in the mine from development operation to haulage and mineral processing requires earth working machines. As there is little to what local tools and labour intensive mining operation system can go in Mineral exploitation. Just as Federal government is interested in switcheroo economy change from solid miners, The mining sectors are also willing to deliver only if government can save them from the hinge of machinery limitation. Thou past government administration had been coming up with funding ideas through BOI and other loan system but it obvious that past era loan system had fail to metamorphose mining sector for good. This is because most productive Mineral Title holders are not getting what they need from the loaning system, what they need is beyond huge loan. Huge loan will be limited to the mining lions (larges scale miners LSM) whereas the cats (small scale miners SSM & quarry miners QM) who are the largest and the highest producer will have no benefit at all.
Giving loans is not a bad idea, but loan is only limited to the beneficiary unlike buying equipment and machinery for regional Mining Association. This will be a unanimous advantage as individual Miner/Mineral Title holders can easily hirer the equipments at subsidize low rate.
In doing this,
1. Income from equipment will stabilize the Mining sector and MAN body,
2. Miners have an increase in production which will generate more revenue to Government in terms of Royalty since royalty and tax paid is directly proportional to miners production rate,
3. It will also be a means of employment generation as larger mine will be developed and lease holder will maximize the entitled working space instead of creter working space exploit by manual tools,
4. Private equipment hiring will be restructured and normalize under competition influence, this will also be an advantage to Miners.
The funding are suggested to be in the following ways
1 Soft Loans for Miners
2. Acquisition of Mining Equipment
Excavator cat330 BL 3 PC's
Dozer D8k 2pcs
Drilling Machine,
Atlas Copco ROCL8,
2pcsPortable Compressor 10pcs
Proposed Equipment control System (ECS)
All related suggestion like this had always been crushed on the base of poor maintaince and incompetent/good management of the equipment. To curb this challenge, the idea below was suggested as the greatest way to synergistically avoid the idea limitation.
A Team suggested to be called Equipment Provider (EP) will be created under the auspices of Miner Association of Nigeria Edo State Branch. The team will be in charge of equipment hiring, maintenance and mobilization regulation to Miners at a reduced Rates.
Concluding remark
Miners can always exploit the ore Ultimately when the required machines and equipments are available. Private equipment hiring are limited, available machines are not accessible and old , how can mining sector consisting of more than 45 plus mineral title holders cope with 3 or 4 excavator? The equipment will be over use, miners operation will be limited to what manual labor capacity can do. When will Nigeria solid Mineral break record with low working capital and labour intensive system? The problem is not Mineral deposit unlike others who go hundred meters into the earth crust to get the mineral, we have deposits as outcrop. We are blessed with shallow overburden deposit, some are even zero overburden but still, country like South Africa known for underground mining still surpass us.
We have identify the problem now and also provide the necessary solution to cause change. God bless Nigeria, God bless MAN.
By: Engr Fatai Jimoh
