FG To Establish Mining Database

The federal Government is establishing a comprehensive electronic database for effective information management of mining activities in the country.

At a virtual meeting organized by a Civil Society Organization, Global Rights Nigeria in Abuja, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development Mr Olamilekan Adegbite said the move would ensure that all information on natural assets were optimally harnessed to yield expected benefits that would  address poverty and wealth creation.

Mr Adegbite noted that while focusing on revenue generation for the nation, the ministry will not compromise the safety of the mine host community environment and social issues.

“The Ministry intends to organize the informal and small scale miners into legal economic businesses that would improve livelihood of rural communities and wellbeing. Government is financing the country’s mineral exploration project to generate credible geoscience capable of encouraging investors into the mining sector”

“The Artisala miners would also be mainstreamed into the legal system for effective management. The Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee, MIREMCO, had been strengthened across the States, to touch light the activities of miners and address issues of compensation as well as community relation”.

Chairman Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, Engr. Elias Mbam, stressed that the commission had been carrying out series of program to promote fiscal justice in the disbursement of revenues to States.

“The Commission, on a routine basis, generates indices revenue collection which forms the basis for paying the 13% derivation to the mineral producing states.  To display Fiscal Justice in the payment of the 13% derivation, The Commission also on monthly basis, through the monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), constantly engages with the Commissioners of Finance of all the States in the Federation”

Also Speaking the Director Mines and Environmental Compliance, Engr Sallim Salaam, listed some identified barriers to effective transformation of the mines sector to include;

“Weak mechanisms for gathering and archiving critical geological data needed by investors,  operators  in  the  Sector  also face  a  range  of  challenges  from insufficient infrastructure to policy uncertainty that constrain investor confidence.  The  decline  of  the  Sector  resulted  in  reduced  focus  and  leverage from  key  stakeholders,  undue  inference  in  legislations  by  states,  multiple taxations, weak enforcement and inadequate workforce.”

Earlier, the Country Director Global Rights Nigeria, Ms Abiodun Baiyewu, emphasized that in every mining activities, the basic natural resources which are water and climate, should be given maximum attention as it has direct impact on the environmental and well being of the host communities.

The Stakeholders expressed optimism in the approved roadmap for the sector, as aided by the World Bank assistance, through MinDiver Project.

Julian Osamoto