Nigeria as a nation is
deeply blessed with various mineral resources ranging from precious metals to
various stones, for example, coal, tin, columbite, lead, gold and so on. Many
of these mineral resources are yet to be exploited. Mining in Nigeria is
regulated by the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, National Minerals and
Metals Policy 2008 and Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations 2011.

Any company whether domestic
or foreign that choose to invest in the Nigerian Mining sector or carry out any
mining activity must get the requisite license or lease before commencing any
activity. The type of mining license or lease depends on the mining activity
the company intends to carry out. There are six types of mining lease or
licenses in Nigeria and they are as follows:
·       
Exploration License – This is the license granted to a company to explore or
search for the required mineral resources in the area covered by the license.
·       
Export permit – It is the permit granted to the company to export mineral
minerals in commercial quantity to outside Nigeria.
·       
Mineral Buying Center License – It is applicable where a company seeks to open
a warehouse to trade in mineral resources.
·       
Purchase License – This is the license to trade in mineral resources
·       
Mining lease – It is the lease granted to any company that intends to start
mining natural resources in commercial quantities in Nigeria.
·       
Small Scale Mining lease -It is the smaller version of a mining lease and
granted for a specified number of years. It can be converted to a mining lease
if it exceeds the scale of production.
There are various challenges
associated with the mining industry in Nigeria. Examples are security problems,
environmental pollution, illegal operation of mining activities, project
funding and so on.
The various questions that
arises are, how is Nigeria tackling the various challenges associated within
the mining industry? How can the mining industry help the country achieve fast
and steady infrastructural development? How can the Nigeria govrnment encourage
both domestic and foreign investors in mineral resources?
The various questions and
challenges of the mining industry in Nigeria and the way forward would be
discussed at the Plenary Session of the NBA Annual General Conference scheduled
to hold on;
Date:
Wednesday, 28th August 2019
Time
11.00 – 12.30
Venue:
Iris, Eko Hotel
Speakers:
      
Moderator: Prof. Peter
Akper, SAN, OFR
Panelists:    
Mining Law Committee