Minister’s Aide Rejects Claims of Chinese Bias, Defends Licence Revocation
Folalumi Alaran in Abuja
The Special Adviser to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kehinde Bamigbetan, has rejected allegations that the federal government is handing Nigeria’s mineral wealth to Chinese interests, insisting the revocation of Basin Mining Limited’s mining licences was based solely on the company’s failure to meet its statutory obligations.
Responding to allegations made by Steve Kefas, Bamigbetan said Basin Mining Limited’s licences were revoked after the company failed to pay statutory annual service fees amounting to N1,223,750,000 on Mineral Title Numbers 45454ML, 45117ML, 45118ML, 40532ML and 40533ML in 2024.
He said the outstanding liability had risen to N2,494,000,000 by the time the licences were eventually revoked.
