The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has given the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) a strict 90-day ultimatum to improve its performance or face severe sanctions from the federal government.
Addressing the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of MIREMCO Chairmen, Dr. Alake expressed deep dissatisfaction with the agency’s current operations, stressing that MIREMCO’s primary responsibility is to serve as the interface between subnational governments, local communities, operators, and the federal government to reduce conflicts in the sector.
“The federal government relies on your reports regarding the activities—or inactivity—of operators and their compliance with environmental and other regulations governing the sector. We are not impressed with how this responsibility is being carried out, and if there is no significant improvement within 90 days, we will not hesitate to take decisive action,” the minister stated firmly.
Dr. Alake referenced Section 19, Subsection 3g of the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA) 2007, which mandates MIREMCO to act as a liaison between subnational authorities, local governments, communities, and operators. He emphasized that the committee has failed to effectively carry out this mandate.
“If MIREMCO had carried out its duties as outlined in the Act, the interference we often see from subnational governments—including local governments shutting down mines and making unconstitutional policy pronouncements—would have been far less. The failure of this body has allowed states to overstep their constitutional boundaries,” Dr. Alake asserted.
The minister also highlighted the role of subnational authorities within MIREMCO’s structure, noting that the committee’s chairmen and five out of its ten members are nominated by state governments, ensuring that state interests are represented within the body’s operations.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Alake urged the chairmen to mobilize their members to significantly improve their performance. He made it clear that should the committee fail to meet expectations, the federal government would have no choice but to take appropriate action to restore effective management of the country’s mineral resources and environmental concerns.
In response to concerns raised, Dr. Alake assured the committee of regular engagements and promised to advocate for increased funding for MIREMCO in the 2025 fiscal year to enhance its capacity to fulfill its mandate effectively.
