In line with its resolve to bridge the gap in revenue remittance from Nigeria’s mining sector into the Federation Account, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has organized a sensitization workshop on the new data rendition template for stakeholders in the South-East Zone.
The event, held on Thursday, October 16, 2025, in Enugu, brought together government officials, mining regulators, and industry stakeholders to discuss effective strategies for accurate revenue tracking and reporting.
Declaring the workshop open, the Chairman of RMAFC, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that revenues generated from the mining sector are properly accounted for and promptly remitted to the Federation Account.
“It has been established that despite the scale of activities in Nigeria’s mining sector, its contribution to the Federation Account remains negligible. This is largely due to inadequate monitoring and weak data management systems,” Dr. Shehu said.
“The Commission is determined to ensure that all revenues due to the Federation Account from mining activities are duly captured and remitted as at when due,” he added.
Represented by the Federal Commissioner representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ambassador Ayuba Jacob Ngbako, the Chairman explained that the new data rendition templates were designed to improve the capture and management of key information — including the quantity of minerals produced, producing companies and their locations, license details, and fees or permits paid by mining operators.
According to him, effective use of the new system will enhance transparency, reduce revenue leakages, and strengthen accountability in the mining sector.
Dr. Shehu further highlighted the importance of diversifying the nation’s revenue sources, stressing that the Tinubu administration is committed to harnessing opportunities in non-oil sectors such as solid minerals, agriculture, manufacturing, and the blue economy amid global oil market volatility and domestic challenges like pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Dr. Peter Mbah, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Hon. Franklin Ogbonna, described the initiative as a “significant step toward building a reliable framework for revenue monitoring and resource allocation.”
“Accurate data is the foundation of sound policy formulation and effective revenue management,” he said.
“It enables both the Federal and State Governments to assess real production figures, close leakages, and ensure that due revenues are remitted for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
The governor’s representative noted that the new template aligns with Enugu State’s vision of repositioning the solid minerals sector as a major driver of internally generated revenue and economic diversification.
In his welcome address, the Federal Commissioner representing Enugu State in RMAFC, Hon. Ozo Obodougo Obumneme, said the workshop was aimed at creating an independent and reliable data platform for the Commission — one that is free of summation errors and useful for cross-verification and attribution purposes.
Other dignitaries who delivered goodwill messages included the Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Ebonyi State, Hon. Onyia Emmanuel; the Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Abia State, Prof. Joel Ogbonna; the Commissioner for Local Government, Anambra State, Hon. Tony Nwabuno; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Mines and Minerals, Imo State, Mrs. Obialor Angela — all of whom commended RMAFC for the initiative.
The sensitization exercise is part of a nationwide programme being conducted across the six geopolitical zones. It began on October 7, 2025, in Abuja (North-Central), followed by the South-South session in Asaba, Delta State, on October 13, 2025.
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