NEWS
Presidency Dismisses Claims Of France Taking Over Nigeria’s Mining Sector
The Presidency has denied allegations that France is taking over Nigeria’s mining sector, dismissing such claims as baseless and misleading.
The clarification comes after Nigeria and France signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Paris.
The MOU, which focuses on developing joint projects to enhance the value chain of critical minerals, sparked speculations online that Nigeria had ceded its mining rights to France.
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However, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, debunked these assertions in a statement issued on Thursday.
Dare stated that the agreement does not compromise Nigeria’s economic or security interests.
“The French are not taking over. Nowhere in the document was it agreed or suggested that Nigeria has signed away mining rights to the French,” he emphasized.
Instead, the MOU outlines a framework for cooperation between the two nations in areas such as research, training, and the exchange of Franco-Nigerian students to promote skills transfer. It also aims to foster joint initiatives to secure critical mineral supplies and decarbonize energy projects.
According to Dare, the partnership will focus on minerals crucial for clean energy technologies, including copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements.
The agreement also emphasizes sustainable mining practices and environmental remediation.
“A key component of the Memorandum of Understanding is the promotion of sustainable mining activities by executing projects and programmes which reduce the environmental impact of mining on carbon emissions, water consumption, and climate change,” the statement read.
The partnership includes plans to rehabilitate over 2,000 abandoned mining pits in Nigeria and implement environmental post-mining projects.
It also seeks to improve the conditions of communities affected by mining operations while ensuring transparency in project execution.
The MOU includes provisions for capacity building through bilateral training, seminars, and events to enhance the expertise of administrators in Nigeria’s critical minerals sector.
Dare highlighted that the partnership aligns with global standards, ensuring that mining operations are managed effectively and sustainably.
“This agreement does not connote anything against Nigeria’s economic and security interests as being maliciously circulated,” he said.
The Presidency expressed confidence that the collaboration would open new opportunities for Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, bolstering economic diversification while maintaining control over the country’s natural resources.
The House of Representatives has intensified efforts to ensure financial transparency and regulatory compliance by directing the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Agency (ICRC), Nigeria Sugar Development Commission (NSDC), and Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to submit detailed budget performance reports.
The directive was issued on Tuesday during an interactive session of the House Committee on Finance, chaired by Hon. James Faleke, in Abuja.
The session aimed to assess the agencies’ adherence to extant financial laws.
Highlighting the concerns, Hon. Faleke instructed the ICRC to provide a comprehensive list of all concessionaires and fees collected since 2008.
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This followed a presentation by Shehu Danmusa, the agency’s Director of Infrastructure, which was criticized for lacking a clear breakdown of revenue and expenditure.
Faleke stressed the need for accurate and transparent financial reporting in line with standard accounting practices.
Similarly, NERC Chairman, Sanusi Garba, presented the agency’s income and expenditure for 2023 and 2024.
He disclosed that the commission’s primary revenue source was the electricity market but faced further scrutiny from the lawmakers.
The committee stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in financial management, urging all agencies to submit the requested details promptly for thorough evaluation.
During the presentation of the N605 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year at the Edo State House of Assembly, Governor Monday Okpebholo experienced a moment of hesitation that caught the attention of those in attendance.
As he began to outline the figures, he appeared to struggle with articulating the exact numbers, stammering and stumbling over the amounts allocated for various sectors. This brief but noticeable lapse seemed to momentarily disrupt the flow of his speech.
Despite the well-prepared nature of the presentation, the Governor’s difficulty in confidently calling out the figures raised murmurs among some lawmakers and attendees, who exchanged glances while others maintained a composed demeanor.
His hesitation was most evident when he addressed the significant capital expenditure of N381 billion and the recurrent expenditure of N223 billion, both critical components of the budget.
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It took him a few seconds to regain his footing, during which he paused, cleared his throat, and continued with a somewhat cautious tone.
Observers speculated whether it was the weight of the figures or the enormity of the budget’s implications that caused the Governor to falter briefly.
However, as the speech progressed, he regained his confidence, delving into the detailed allocations for road infrastructure, healthcare, education, and agriculture with renewed composure.
In a room where every word and gesture is scrutinized, the Governor’s brief struggle served as a reminder that even the most experienced leaders can have moments of nervousness under the spotlight.
Nonetheless, the focus soon returned to the substance of the budget, with its ambitious plans to transform Edo State’s infrastructure, education system, and healthcare sector.
Nine-time Nigerian league champions, Enyimba International FC of Aba, has signed former Super Eagles’ striker and 2013 AFCON winner Brown Ideye.
Biztellers reports that Ideye signed till the end of the 2024/25 season.
The Sporting Director of the ‘Nzogbu-Nzogbu Boys’ and ex-international, Ifeanyi Ekwueme, made the disclosure on Tuesday.
Ekwueme said, “The talks have been going on for a while and we completed it yesterday.
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“He will be with us until the end of the season and we believe he will bolster our team’s attack as we compete in the league and the continent.”
It was gathered that Ideye, 36, has been without a club since leaving Kuwaiti side Al Yarmouk in 2022 but he is now set to stage a return to Nigeria’s top flight, taking after former international teammates Ahmed Musa and Abdullahi Shehu who are currently playing for Kano Pillars.
The move will also mark the return of Ideye to the domestic scene 17 years after he left Ocean Boys in 2006.
Ideye was on the verge of joining former league champions Rivers United in October but the move collapsed.
Enyimba have two matches crucial to their domestic and continental aspirations in the next five days as they play Sunshine Stars on Wednesday in a rescheduled NPFL game before travelling to Maputo, Mozambique for their third group game in the CAF Confederation Cup against Black Bulls.
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