The Federal Government has increased the rates and charges for all activities in the mining sector.

Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the new charges on Thursday in Abuja, expressed concerns over non-remittance by some operators.

Alake said that mining operators in the industry were making huge amounts of money but refused to remit them to the Federal Government.

“Today, we are taking a major step in the efforts to implement the seven-point agenda.

“This is to position the sector for economic consolidation by announcing a new regime of rates and charges for various services of the department and agencies of the ministry.”

The minister said the development was in view of the introduction of qualitative measures being implemented in recent times.

He added that it would raise the level of services, improve traffic of transactions, and develop infrastructure.

“For instance, we supervised the successful implementation and conclusion of the mineral sector support for economic diversification minddiver project.”

He said the mining sector involved Mining Cadastral Office (MCO), the agency responsible for licensing, which acquired the new mining information system, Electronic Mining Cadastre System, and the EMC+ portal.

“This enables a 24-hour application and administration system that accelerated the rate of application and access of applicants to MCO, adding that the system had improved transparency.

Alake said the system would also encourage more interest and boost participation in the sector, thereby giving stakeholders confidence to invest in it.

He said that the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) had acquired integrated base data accessible to the public.

“The stakeholders have been enjoying the mining sector; it is therefore equitable that those who invest in the mining sector and make profits from it should be on the front lines of government’s efforts to recoup rather than pass it on to poor Nigerians.”

Alake said that there were about 268 items in the rate regime, adding that it would be difficult to mention all the items.

“The major highlights are as follows: under the new regime, investors applying for a mining lease license will pay N3 million, while Small Scale Mining Lease (SSML) applicants will pay N300,000 for the first two cadastral units.

“The cost to obtain an Exploration Licence (EL) is N600, 000 for the first 100 cadastral units.”

He listed others as a quarry lease and reconnaissance permit, which attracted N300,000.

“The new rate, which affects 268 items in the industry, includes an annual service fee of N31,500 for the first time.

“Also, N260, 000 for a Small Scale Mining License (SSML), N500,000 for a Quarry Lease, and N1,250,000 for firms operating with a Mining Lease.

“Following the renewal of licenses, the rates for the respective categories will be N42, 000,” he said.

Alake also listed an exploration license, N420, 000, for a SSML N1.5 million for a mining lease, and N1 million for a quarry lease.

“Other services affected by the new regulations include mineral title applications to the MCO, along with the transfer, enlargement, surrender, and consolidation of mineral titles.”

According to Alake, the new regulations seek to maximise royalties from critical minerals like lithium and gold to boost the nation’s revenue base and contribute significantly to economic development.

“In the new rate regime, lithium ore lepidolite at the current market value of N600,000 per tonne attracts an N18,000 royalty per tonne.

“Kunzite, with a current market value of N3 million per tonne, attracts a N90,000 royalty per tonne, while lithium ore spodumene, with a current market value of N316,667 per tonne, attracts a N9,500 royalty per tonne,’’ he said.

He said that the rate review also affected services rendered by the MCO and the NGSA.

According to the minister, the new rate regime takes immediate effect. (NAN)

Travellers and motorists have been groaning following fuel scarcity across various filling stations in the nation’s capital, Abuja.

This is just as the Major Energy Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) blamed the situation on supply chain disruption even as the situation is a little bit calm in Lagos except pockets of long queues at some major filling stations.

Daily Trust findings showed that filing stations of both the independent and major oil marketers within Abuja city and some area councils of the FCT have remained closed without fuel.

A visit by our reporter to some of the filling stations especially where fuel is being dispensed showed that there was a long queue of vehicles and motorcycles waiting to buy fuel.

At AA Rano filling station, Wuse zone 2, there was a long queue of vehicles waiting to refill their tanks, even as some motorists carried gallons to buy the fuel.

Also at Gwagwalada area council, one of the satellite towns in the FCT, our reporter observed that some filling stations remained closed, except Doma filling station, which is located along Secretariat road.

However, some motorists who spoke with our reporter, expressed their frustration over the fuel scarcity which they said posed serious hardship to them.

Our reporter further observed that the fuel scarcity and increase in transport fare has forced many residents, especially civil servants to resort to trekking within the city center of Abuja while some trekked from homes to their working places.

Mr. Ayuba Solomon, a commercial driver, who spoke with our reporter, said the fuel scarcity has forced him to park his car at home.

“In fact, since yesterday being Thursday, I couldn’t bring out my car to pick passengers because many filing stations within the area I reside have no fuel,” he said.

“And even where you see fuel, the liter is high as I can’t afford to buy a liter for N900 per liter, which is almost black market,” he said.

Another motorist, Godwin Emmanuel, who is also a commercial driver plying Abuja- Enugu route, expressed his frustration over the fuel scarcity in Abuja.

He said the resurfacing of fuel scarcity in Abuja, has not augured well for both motorists and travellers, saying the fuel scarcity has compelled him to increase transport fare by 85 percent.

“How do you expect me to fuel at N870 or N900 per liter and expect me not to increase transport fare, if we must tell each other the truth,” he said.

A director of one of the petrol stations, who preferred anonymity, said the resurfacing of fuel scarcity in Abuja, was due to non supply of fuel by NNPCL.

He said being an independent oil marketer, he has always depended on buying from NNPCL, which he said could not get fuel for over a week.

“It is the NNPCL that supplies us fuel but for the past one week, we could not get fuel and the government has failed to tell Nigerians what is responsible for the fuel scarcity,” he said.

He added “And the most annoying thing again is that despite the government secretly paying fuel subsidies, yet the government has failed to supply fuel,” he said.

One of our correspondents also observed long queues at TotalEnergies, Wuse, Zone 3, TotalEnergies by Audit House, Conoil and TotalEnergies, opposite the NNPC Ltd. Towers and all NNPC Ltd. retail outlets.

Along Kubwa expressway, the NNPC Ltd. retail outlets opposite Salbas, Shema, AA Rano and Salbas fuel stations as well as Evergreen station inside Kubwa had long queues.

Black marketers were also seen hawking petrol in jerry cans.

Motorists who spoke with our correspondent, however, lamented the untold hardship the development has caused them.

Musa Aliyu, a commercial driver, said he had to increase his fare for transportation because of the difficulties of getting fuel.

“Getting fuel now is so difficult. Most filling stations are not selling even when you see the ones that are selling, long queues are there,” he said.

Slight queues in Lagos

In Lagos, our correspondent observed slight queues at major filling stations on Lagos Mainland and Island where fuel is sold at the official rate of between N568 and N610.

The long queues were observed at Mobil Filling Station at Bonny Camp; MRS along Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island; among others.

IPMAN confirms scarcity

President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association (IPMAN), Alhaji Abubakar Migandi said he has been inundated with reports of scarcity especially in Abuja, saying he was yet to be properly briefed on the cause of the crisis.

MEMAN blames supply chain disruption

Executive Secretary of Major Energy Marketers’ Association (MEMAN), Clement Isong in a chat with our correspondent blamed the scarcity on supply chain disruption.

He said the recent rainfall across the country, especially in Lagos, made it difficult for trucks to lift products, saying there was a thunderstorm at the depots.

He said, “The supply chain is slower when there is a thunderstorm. 24-hour supply chain disruption means that the stations are dry. During the rainy season, the trucks drive more slowly, they also get stuck when the roads are flooded.”

He however assured that the queues would disappear in a few days’ time, adding, “There is product in Lagos, the product is coming and the product is moving.”

The use of Compressed Natural Gas in automobiles is 40 per cent cheaper than using Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited announced on Thursday.

NNPC also announced that 100 CNG stations would be functional nationwide in 12 months, as it simultaneously inaugurated 11 CNG stations across various locations in Abuja and Lagos on Thursday.

Speaking at one of the locations in Abuja, the Managing Director, NNPC Retail Limited, Huub Stokman, said the stations represent a major step in extending the national oil firm’s CNG presence in Nigeria, marking an important moment in its efforts to diversify Nigeria’s energy mix.

“Adding CNG to NNPC stations provides Nigeria with an affordable alternative to existing fuel products. CNG will be about 40 per cent cheaper than petrol in Nigeria. And with continued investments, it could become a significant part of our energy mix,” stated.

On the expansion of the stations, Stokman said, “In the next 12 months, NNPC Retail will have launched over 100 CNG sites.”

He said NNPC was “also supporting our implementation partners to set up two mechanical training centres combined with conversion centres in Abuja and Lagos.

“And it is fantastic that Nigeria is utilising its own natural resources to bring affordable energy to the people of Nigeria, and NNPC Retail is very proud to be part of this journey.” Nigeria has abundant gas reserves of about 209 trillion standard cubic feet.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC, Mele Kyari, said the company and its partners were developing infrastructures to further bring CNG closer to end users.

Kyari said, “I can see the benefits, people are saying that it works for them, it is cheaper and cleaner fuel and it is accessible. What we are going to do is to roll it out across all the states of the federation and it is already a work in progress.

“We will construct six CNG mother stations across the country between now and December and you will see this happen. We are also taking another step, we are building three LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) stations in Ajaokuta, one of them belongs to us and the two others are done in partnerships.

“What this does is to bring gas closer to consumers because distance matters in transporting gas, which is why we are doing this so that it becomes accessible and easier. And this is for the short term because as soon as we complete the AKK pipeline it gets much closer to end users and ultimately as you reduce the distance, the cost will come down and you see cheaper fuel across the country.”

The Executive Vice President, Cleanergy Innovation Ltd, partners of NNPC in the design and installation of the CNG stations, Shettima Imam, said the retail outlets represent a significant step forward in Nigeria’s journey towards affordable, sustainable, locally sourced and environmentally friendly fuel solutions.

“These CNG filling stations show the commitment to diversify Nigeria’s energy offerings and promote Mr President’s CNG initiative. These new facilities are designed to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient service to all customers, aligning with global best practices.

“The CIL team’s expertise and dedication with the full support of the NNPC Retail team and its senior management, after meticulous planning and safeguards, have ensured the successful completion and delivery of this first step of the project, in a record time from the arrival of the equipment in Nigeria.

“Thus setting a new benchmark for CNG infrastructure in the region. These CNG stations are a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration and innovation,” Imam stated.

It was further explained at the event that the government had been subsidising the petrol consumption of an average car owner by about N6m to N9m per annum. But with the deployment and use of CNG, an average car owner would save about N12m annually.

All the bad looking and mutilated naira notes that rejected in the Southern part of Nigeria, are used for business transactions in the North. You will be given mutilated naira notes as change in the North and you will also use the same money to buy something.

People don’t reject mutilated money in the North. You can also walk into any bank with your mutilated naira notes in the North and it will be changed for new naira notes. #10 and #5 are still in abundance in the North. While in the South, you hardly see #10. In Benin, PH and Delta people no longer use #5 for any business transaction. However, in the North, no one reject #5.