The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development is probing the claims and counter-claims of Osun State Government and Thor Explorations Limited, owners of the Segilola Resources Operating Limited over taxation and operational matters.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake announced today that a fact-finding team has been set up to engage both parties towards resolving the dispute and restoring industrial harmony.

Led by Dr. Mary Ogbe, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD), the committee will include representatives of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Ministry of Labour and Employment and the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

The Minister observed that the Federal Government has been marketing opportunities for investments in the solid minerals sector across the world and cautioned that closure of mining operations by subnationals could abort efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and provoke divestment.

“ Indiscriminate closures of mining operations by subnationals raises the risk of discouraging foreign direct investments and even worse, possible divestment by existing companies. Mining is on the exclusive legislative list. The Ministry of Solid Minerals should be consulted before such disruptive actions are taken.” Dr. Alake asserted.

The Minister reiterated the Federal Government’s interest in raising the tempo of productive activities nationwide to boost economic growth, increase employment and community development.

Dr. Alake stressed that any cessation of industrial production will undermine the goals of economic prosperity, deny workers the opportunity to earn income, and further contribute to adversity.

Alake called on both parties to co-operate with the fact-finding team and allow production to continue while the issues are resolved.

“ I hereby call on His Excellency, the Governor of Osun State, Sen. Ademola Adeleke and the management of Thor Exploration Limited to sue for peace and industrial harmony in the interest of the workers and their dependents who may be adversely affected by closure of operations at the factory.” he added.

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to ban the use of single-use plastics and sachet water starting from January 2025.

Confirming the ban during a stakeholders’ workshop on the implementation of the ban on Styrofoam and SUPs for packaging in Lagos, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, explained that the ban, set to begin in January 2025, is part of the government’s efforts to establish policy guidelines for plastic use, ensuring “sustainable management of plastic waste” and promoting a healthy and safe environment.

It was reported that in January 2024, the state government banned the use of Styrofoam in all government establishments and across Lagos due to the increasing levels of plastic waste and its adverse environmental effects.

However, industry stakeholders have urged the government to implement the ban in phases rather than enforcing it outright to ensure effective compliance and consider the current economic challenges.

Speaking on behalf of the industry, the Lagos chairperson of the Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), Mosaku Ololade, said, “We have been engaging Lagos State Government on the way forward and we have been sensitising our members on the planned ban.

“We want the government to continue to engage us. We are a responsible association. We are ready to work with the government.

“We have over 2,000 members in Lagos alone with over 10,000 workers. We hereby implore the government to implement the ban in phases to allow our members ample opportunity for compliance.

“There are a lot of things to be put in place before coming up with total enforcement,” Ololade said.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has announced that ongoing improvements in power generation and distribution could potentially result in a reduction in electricity tariffs across Nigeria.

The minister shared this information during a meeting with Mr. Tosin Adeyanju, the Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund.

In a statement on Thursday, by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu noted that approximately 40% of consumers were receiving a high amount of power, with the country generating an average of 5500MW.

Currently, customers in Band-A are charged N206.5 per kWh following the Federal Government’s subsidy removal, which was part of an agreement to provide a minimum of 20 hours of power supply daily.

He emphasized that “the price of electricity is still the cheapest in Nigeria, compared to other African nations such as Togo, Mali, and Niger Republic.”

He acknowledged that Nigeria’s low-income levels made the cost seem high to consumers.

Furthermore, he asserted, “It is still far cheaper to use electricity than to run generators, using petrol or diesel, given the current prices of those commodities.”

The Minister expressed optimism about the future, stating, “there is a possibility of a reduction in the current tariff as generation and distribution are ramped up.”

In his remarks, Adeyanju praised the minister for his performance over the past year, highlighting his competence and efforts to restore Nigerians’ confidence in the power sector.

“I would like to commend you as a minister who is actively improving the power sector. Since 1999, we have not seen the level of improvement in electricity supply that we are witnessing today.”

Previously, many people were turning to solar energy due to the poor supply. However, your leadership has restored public confidence in the sector,” Adeyanju stated.

He informed the Minister that, as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the agency is focused on empowering youths, especially in rural areas, by training them to assemble one kilowatt of solar energy.