Maryam Aminu
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing revenue generation from Nigeria’s mining sector through improved data collection, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms.
This assurance came during a sensitization workshop on the Commission’s new data rendition template for the South East Zone, held on Thursday in Enugu. The initiative is part of RMAFC’s efforts to bridge gaps in the remittance of revenues generated from the mining sector into the Federation Account.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of RMAFC, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, emphasized that despite the scale of mining activities across the country, the sector contributes only marginally to national revenue due to poor monitoring and ineffective data systems.
“It has been established that despite the extent of activities going on in the mining sector, it contributes only a negligible amount to the Federation Account,” Dr. Shehu noted. “Hence, it is the intention of the Commission to ensure that all revenues due to the Federation are promptly remitted as and when due.”
Represented by the Federal Commissioner representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ambassador Ayuba Jacob Ngbako, Dr. Shehu explained that the newly designed data rendition templates would improve the accuracy and timeliness of information on mineral production, company operations, and payments such as licenses, fees, and permits.
According to him, effective data management will help track and account for mining activities and revenue, significantly boosting the sector’s contribution to the national purse.
Dr. Shehu also stressed the importance of diversifying Nigeria’s revenue sources amid current economic challenges, pointing out that overreliance on hydrocarbons has exposed the nation to global oil market fluctuations and other risks. He reaffirmed RMAFC’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration in harnessing potentials in other sectors such as solid minerals, agriculture, manufacturing, and the blue economy.
In a goodwill message, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, represented by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Hon. Franklin Ogbonna, described the initiative as a significant step towards establishing a reliable framework for resource monitoring and revenue allocation.
“Accurate data is the foundation of sound policy formulation and effective revenue management,” he said. “It enables both 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 further commended RMAFC’s efforts, noting that the new framework aligns with Enugu State’s drive to reposition its solid minerals sector as a key contributor to internally generated revenue and economic diversification.
In his welcome address, the Federal Commissioner representing Enugu State, Hon. Ozo Obodougo Obumneme, said the initiative aims to establish a platform for independent, error-free data sources that can serve as a reliable reference for the Commission’s revenue attributions.
Other dignitaries who commended the Commission’s efforts included Hon. Onyia Emmanuel, Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Ebonyi State; Prof. Joel Ogbonna, Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Abia State; Hon. Tony Nwabuno, Commissioner for Local Government, Anambra State; and Mrs. Obialor Angela, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Mines and Minerals, Imo State.
The sensitization workshop in Enugu is part of a nationwide exercise covering all six geopolitical zones. It commenced in Abuja on October 7, 2025, and continued in Asaba, Delta State, for the South-South region on October 13, 2025.
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