Minister Blasts CBN As Bitter Rivalry Among Buhari’s Appointees Continues

By Fola James

Dr Uche Ogah, Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, has one message for the Godwin Emefiele-led Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN; you are not assisting me to succeed in my job as a minister after abandoning the steel and mining sector. The minister’s attack came amidst suggestion that the Abia state born politician is one of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointees struggling hard to find their feet in the administration.

The attack, some also say, is one of such under the Buhari administration as his appointees try to outdo each other in the game of power. Until he died of COVID last year, Abba Kyari, then Chief of Staff to the President, was known to have engaged in a bitter rivalry with Maj. Gen. Babagana Mungonu (rtd), the National Security Adviser, NSA over who the Service Chiefs should report to.

Also, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is also said to have been repeatedly undermined by a cabal in the government led by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. In the Ministry of Transportation, the rivalry between Rotimi Amaechi and Senator Gbemi Saraki is very open to stakeholders in the sector.

Ogah, the businessman turned politician who spoke at a two-day public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Mines, Steel Development and Metallurgy, said nothing is being done by the apex bank to develop the sector.

The public hearing was designed to get inputs of stakeholders on the preparations of four bills and for an investigative motion for the solid minerals sector.

The bills are the Nigerian Minerals Development Corporation Establishment Bill 2021 and Solid Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission Establishment Bill 2021.

The others are the Institute of Bitumen Management Establishment Bill 2021, Explosive Act 1964 Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2021 and the urgent need to investigate the loss of 9 billion dollars annually, due to illegal mining and smuggling of gold.

Ogah, while making his presentation said: “It is unfortunate that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) did not believe in us. If they believe in us, if they support us the way they are supporting agriculture, we will do wonders for this country. This is one ministry that is untapped, that is unknown but that can change the landscape of our revenue.”

He explained that more investment is required in the area of research to develop the sector.

“Equally, we need to ask the Ministry of Finance to speed up the export policy on solid minerals because that is the only way to have operators into the sector.”

On the bill for the establishment of Nigerian Mineral Development Commission, NMDC, Ogah said he would want an enlargement of the minerals listed there.

According to him, “let us not limit ourselves to only seven minerals because we have other minerals that are needed for industrial revolution.

“We must look at how to fast track development of these mineral resources, and so we must look at the relationship between the ministry and the state governments.

“Sates must be ready to be involved in driving the production of mineral resources, not just talking about the resources been cited in the states. States should work toward getting institution to help drive development of solid minerals resources in their states.

“We need to harmonise all the issues, so we could have clear direction for the growth of the sector”, he said.