By Francisca Oluyole
The Mining Cadestre Office (MCO) said no waivers for mineral title holders that failed to pay annual service fees.

Mr Obadiah Nkom, MCO Director General, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

Nkom said the Nigeria Mning Act, 2007 did not stiputulate or indicate that a waiver should be given to mineral title holders as a result of any pandemic.

He said that some of the defaulters complained that they were unable to pay their fees due to COVID-19 and insecurity that prevented them from operating.

NAN recalls that MCO had issued a month default notice to 2,763 mineral title defaulters early January and to expire on Feb. 10.

MCO has made public the names of companies and mineral title holders who are yet to pay their annual service fees.

The office warned that failure of the defaulters to pay their debts as stipulated by the Nigeria MIneral Act, 2007, would lead to the revocation of their mining titles after expiration date of the notice.

MCO has stated that it would strictly enforce the ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ principle if defaulters fail to comply after the deadline.

There are companies with mineral titles but failed to use the titles, and failed to pay dues accruable to the government.

According to Nkom, no section in the Act that talks about waiver, no section talks about pandemic. I work with the law and anything that is outside the law, I don’t have any power.

“Waiver of debt is not in the Mining Act, even, royalty which is not under my purview, the law indicates that the Minister can defer royalties with the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

” It is a regular process every licence holder is obligated by law to pay annual service fees, once a licence is given to a miner, is an obligation that must be accepted.

“The revocation is done with the approval of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development in view of our statutory responsibility.

“We sent the default notices through registered posts, publications, bulk SMS, and we also put it on our website to avoid defaulters denying that he or she did not get the notice,” he said.

He said that Government did not delight in revoking licences and at the same time we believe that licensees should live up to expections by paying up their annual dues.

“We are almost at the expiration date. Some have complied while some are yet to, we will compile the names and companies that did not pay and send to the Minister for revocation approval.

“We will make sure that after revoking the licence, the defaulters still pay up their debts.”

The DG said that some foreign mining title holders were among the defaulters listed but most of them have complied to avoid embarrassment.

By Francisca Oluyole
The Mining Cadestre Office (MCO) said it generated N2.303 billion in 2020, as against N1.5 billion target set for the office.

Mr Obadiah Nkom, Director General of MCO disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

Nkom said that the MCO made the above amount in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic which slowed socio-economic activities.

He said that the amount was the third highest generated revenue in the history of MCO, while the second highest was realised in 2017.

He also explained that in 2019, MCO generated N2.6 billion, which was the first highest in the history of the office.

“What we generated in 2020 would have exceeded what we realised in 2019, but due to COVID-19, we were unable to do much.

” The revenue MCO generated in 2019 was more than 50 per cent the entire Ministry’s revenue.

”The budgetary target given to me this year is N2 billion and with God on my side, I will achieve beyond that because I have set a target for myself to exceed that amount.

” The amount realised in 2019 and 2020 was as a result of total support I got from my Ministers because they gave me total support I needed to operate.

“Some defaulters have gone to the extent of pleading with the Ministers to intervene to enable them make part payments but I refused and the Minister supported me because the debt will continue to accumulate.

Masterclass
By Ifeanyi Nwoko
Four lucky Nigerians are set to win Two Million Naira each in the Stanel Youth Empowerment Master Class organised by Stanel Group and set to hold in Awka on Friday.

The lucky participants that include youths across the country will be part of the empowerment programme initiated by Dr Stanley Uzochukwu, the Chairman of the group.

A statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Mr David Abakpa, Media Aide to Uzochukwu, said that the empowerment programme tagged ‘Access More with Stanel’ is being co-sponsored by Access Bank and the Anambra State Government.

The event which will hold at the Stanel Dome in Awka, Anambra will feature political and business leaders, while offering prizes to participants.

“In the 2021 edition, various attractive prizes will be won, including Dr Stanley Uzochukwu empowerment grants of two million Naira for four lucky registered participants of the Master Class who meet requirement.

“In the 2019 edition, a brand new car manufactured by Innoson Motors was won along with other prices.

“The Master Class shall be declared open by the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, while Senate Whip, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu and a former Senate President, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim will be special guests,” the statement said.

Obi of Onitsha HRM Nnaemeka Achebe is expected as the Guest Speaker.

Participants will also listen to addresses from business leaders, including the Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Dr Herbert Wigwe; Chairman of Air Peace Airlines, Dr Allen Onyema and Chairman of COSCHARIS, Dr Cosmas Maduka.

“Other speakers are former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Charles Soludo, CEO of Centre for Values in Leadership; Prof. Pat Utomi and CEO of KEMAPO Management Consulting Group, Prof. Lilian Orogbu.

“Actor Richard Mofe Damijo, Love Idoko Uloko, George Omoraro, Linus Idahosa, Kene Mkparu, Arch. Apeh Harrison and Kingsley Eze will serve as panelists,” the statement said.

There would also be a concert where renowned artists like Patoranking, Flavour, Funny bone, Slow dog, Umu Obiligbo, Zoro, Akpororo, Teni and Kcee will perform.

“Participants are strictly advised to observe all COVID-19 protocols and safety guidelines as directed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

“Stanel has made adequate provision for free face masks, hand sanitizers, sanitised T-Shirts, face caps and all participants shall be compelled to temperature checks and walk through sanitising boots,” it said.

By Ifeanyi Nwoko
The Federal Government has disbursed N27 billion to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as part of the MSMEs Survival Fund Scheme.

Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Katagum, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing newsmen in Abuja.

Katagum said that government would also roll out the last two schemes that make up the Survival Fund.

She said that the Steering Committee for the Survival Fund would turn in its reports to the Ministry of Finance as well as await the second tranche of the fund.

Katagum, who is also the Chairperson, Steering Committee, MSME Survival Fund And Guaranteed Off-Take Schemes (GOS), said the existing schemes were progressing seamlessly.

“The Federal Government is set to rollout the last two schemes of the MSMEs Survival Fund component of the National Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP) namely, the Guaranteed Offtake Scheme (GOS) and the General MSMEs Grant.

“Two of the components approved under the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) are the MSMEs Survival Fund and Guaranteed Off-take Scheme.

“The Steering Committee approved the implementation of the 2 Schemes in 5 distinct parts namely; the Payroll Support Scheme, Artisan and Transport Scheme, Formalization Support Scheme, General MSMEs Grant and the Guaranteed Offtake Scheme.

“Under these two components, the portal will open from 11:59pm on Tuesday, 9th February 2021 to Thursday 18th February 2021 for the Guaranteed Off take Scheme (GOS) and General MSME Grant Applications.

“All interested MSMEs can go directly to the Portal and register for either of the Schemes free of charge,” she said.

She explained that the purpose of GOS is to stimulate direct local production by enabling 100,000 MSMEs in the production sector with funds to produce post COVID lock down stimulus products.

She pointed out that the scheme would give preference to products produced in reasonably sufficient volumes in each State of the Federation.

She said that the product must have the proven propensity to create jobs and have a multiplier effect on the surrounding economy.

She listed the products of interest to include: Face Masks, Hand sanitizer, Liquid Soap, Disinfectant and Processed Foods.

Mr Tola Johnson, Special Assistant to the President of MSMEs in the office of the Vice President, said that a total of 100,000 businesses across the 36 states and FCT would benefit from the new schemes.

He said that for the GOS, 2,640 businesses will benefit from 34 states while Abia state would get 3,080 beneficiaries, Kano 3,280 and Lagos 3,880 beneficiaries.

He said that the same allocation would also be utilised for the MSMEs grant.

Johnson added that the portal for the GOS would be opened for two weeks while the portal for the grant would be opened for one week.

He said that to qualify, businesses must be registered in the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), must be owned by a Nigerian and must have a minimum of two staff.

He however stressed that the disbursement would be on a first come first served basis.