*Photo: Mr. Theophilus Sanyaolu Oluwase’ki*
Mr. Theophilus Sanyaolu Oluwase’ki, is a Nigerian Lawyer and Entrepreneur based in Johannesburg, South Africa. His company, ATM Quarries Ltd, recently acquired an Exploration and Quarry License from the Ministry of Solid Mineral and Development to operate in the Nigerian booming Mining Sector.
In this interview with our Editor, Shakirudeen Bankole , in Abuja, during the 8th edition of the Nigerian Mining Week, he said all is now set to commence operations by January next year in Ekiti State. Excerpts:
Q: How has your confidence been reinforced on your decision to invest in the Nigerian Mining sector, given what you have seen from the 2024 9th Edition of the Mining Week here in abuja?
A: My confidence hs been extremely boosted. And I think that I can transmit this to others. This is so because I see the level of enthusiasm of the government, backed up with relevant geological facts and data, points to the seriousness of the government. This would now propel me to go forth as an ambassador to promote what is happening in the mining sector in Nigeria.
Q: Can you walk us through your investment project, in the Mining Sector?
A: My company is called A.T.M Quarries Linited. We have both Quarry and Exploration License. As a buildup to this licensing, what we did was to ensure that we followed all the procedures. We have completed all the documentations; mobilization of equipment and installation is ongoing. Prior to this stage, we have conducted some geological surveys before we actually decided to start bringing in equipment. Our site is based in Omuo in Ekiti East Local Government of Ekiti State, South Western region of Nigeria.
Q: What plans have you put in place in terms of the conversion of mineral wealth and its practical conversion to profitability for your company, economic prosperity for the state, and the remedial plan for the host community and state?
A: We are investors. And one of the primary reasons for us to come around for business in Ekiti State was to be able to help create jobs and grow the economy. Don’t forget, this is my home state. This is the state where I was born and raised. So, we want to leverage the ongoing reforms to drive development in our own state. I know and I am convinced that through intervention as this, the communities would be developed, jobs would be created, while ethical profit is being made.
Because the land where we are operating is the land where I grew from, there is no doubt that we would ensure that the land is properly watered. We are also not going to experience community conflict because we have signed Community agreement too.
Ultimately, the major interest for us, beyond profit, is to be able to contribute our own quota to the economic development of the country, through our investment in the sector such as Mining.
Q: How did your decision to invest in this growing sector come about?
A: My first contact with your organization was sometime last week when there was a Rosio event in Johannesburg in South Africa. At that event, two of your directors, (Mr. Mikail Mumuni, the Managing Director, and Mr. Abidoye Abiosun, Director of Marketing) were showcased and they began to speak at the forum about what is going on in the mining industry in Nigeria. It was because of that event and the conviction I gained therefrom that prompted my coming to attend the 2024 Edition of the Nigerian Mining Week here in Abuja, Nigeria.
My partner and I are investing in the Quarry and Mining Exploration in Ekiti State. The logistical arrangements for the quarry operations is nearing completion and production should start by January 2025.
I am so excited about the level of enthusiasm and the momentum that is gathering around the mining sector in Nigeria. It is a sector that has been long neglected. But I think the focus on diversification has now gingered that interest where everyone is now mobilizing the see how that sector is fully explored for the greater economic growth of the economy of Nigeria.
My observation is that, the level of involvement and interest of the Government, as presented by the Honourable Minister, Dr. Dele Alake, the Chairmen House and Senate Committees on Mining oversight, the two core drivers of the legislative backup, and the level of presentation of even the Ministers of Defense, Budget and Planning, and others, show that the country is poised towards harnessing the abundant resources that is available in the mining sector. I am very excited that curiosity has been created. People are now aware that there is something happening in the Mining sector in Nigeria. I think that is good for all stakeholders.
Q: What does the Environmental Impact Assessment of your Quarry and extractive activities say on the possible environmental effects, and the mitigating factors you have put in place, including remediation programmes to compensate the host community and the people?
A: Build up to our licensing, we ensured that we followed the processes, working it out through the Ministry of Solid Mineral Development, going through all tables and departments at the national and state level. This was to ensure that no rule is bent in the process of the setup. We signed a full Community Development agreement that is renewable every five years. This agreement has to do with our duty to provide water, giving educational scholarship to children up to the University level, and also other important interventions to make the environment livable.
Besides, this is the community I grew up from. I am a critical stakeholder of this community. It is part of my job to see it well. I want my community developed. And my partners also very interested in the same goal.
Q: Is it correct for the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ascribe the credit of your investment as one of the gains of its ongoing reforms in the Nigerian Mining Sector?
A:Most definitely. Like I have said, the level of enthusiasm that this government has exhibited, in terms of the diversification of the economic growth and development of the country away from the Oil and Gas is excellent. So, I and my partners are essentially coming around because of this new development. I am convinced as a Nigerian that it is time for us all, wherever we are in the diaspora to come back home and come and support the ongoing efforts to develop our country. Nobody would do it better than us.
We are very excited about the ongoing development in the Nigerian Mining Sector and we are here now to play our own role to make things better. The drive of the Honourable Minister of Solid Mineral and Development is quite impressive and extremely important. The man has used his journalistic prowess to open the vista of the sector to serious business. People are now curious. And curiosity is the beginning of change. So, the transformation that is being driven by the Minister is a boost to the ongoing economic reforms of this government.
