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The Federal Government has said it would continue to pursue the implementation of well thought- out reforms and strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in the mining sector in the bid to make Nigeria a leading mining jurisdiction.
Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, stated this Thursday in Abuja at the opening session of Project Presentation by the World Bank’s Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification Project (MinDiver).
He explained that apart from the critical stakeholders within the country, government was also collaborating with international development agencies to reposition the sector to meet its twin mandate of economic development, wealth and job creation.
Noting that the Nigerian Mining sector has enjoyed huge support from the World Bank, the Minister said that the project presentation event points to that fact.
The project presentation was attended by the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon Abubakar Bawa Bwari; Governors of Eboyin, Engr David Umahi; Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade; Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu; Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai; former military governor of old Oyo State, Gen Paul Tarfa; and Task Team Leader MinDiver Project, World Bank, Francisco Igualada.
Dr. Fayemi said that the ministry’s determination to address the issue of exclusivity of mining to the federal government and the absence of transparency and accountability, has established two bodies to ensure compliance with the provisions of the mining Roadmap.
The bodies are Mining Implementation and Strategy team (MIST), which has representatives of state government and the National Council on Mining and Mineral Resources Development (NCMMRD), which comprises of state commissioners for Mining as members.
The Minister said: “Clearly, Mining holds a promise to be a major catalyst of our development goals – indeed; Nigeria has all it takes to become a leading mining jurisdiction in the near future.
"What we need more than ever before, as we have recognised, is the consistent implementation of well thought-out reforms and strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to ensure the success and sustainability of such reforms.
“This event is thus a testament to our aspirations in this regard. It is also in line with several other actions we have taken in recent years.
For example, since exclusive federal jurisdiction and the lack of transparency and accountability in the sector have historically caused disaffection between the federal government on one hand; and states’ governments and communities on the other; we have taken practical steps to encourage more beneficial participation of state governments in mining.
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