The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, has approved 499 licences for the buying and selling of solid minerals in Nigeria in 2023.
This development was revealed by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, during his address as the keynote speaker at the BusinessDay Solid Minerals Conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said The Ministry continues to facilitate the processing of applications for permits to refine minerals and to process and purchase them. Last year, no fewer than 499 licences were granted to applicants involved in the business of purchasing and sales of minerals.
Alake said Predictably, applications for the purchase and sale of lithium topped the list with 146 licences, followed by gold (91), tin (46) and coal (32). Other minerals for which licences were granted include tantalite, iron ore, kaolin, feldspar, beryl, baryte, columbite, mica and aquamarine
He also disclosed that the Federal Government plans to hold about 25 per cent of the N1 billion share capital of the Nigerian Solid Minerals Corporation.
Alake also said that Nigerian citizens will, by public shares, hold 25 per cent and private investors can acquire up to 10 per cent of the remaining shares.
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