The United
Nations Industrial Development Organization, UNIDO, has concluded arrangement
to help Nigeria develop a National Action on Mercury Use in artisanal
and
small-scale gold mining.According to him, “we want to attain the goal in line with government’s vision to develop a well –diversified economy and reduce the over-reliance on oil through agriculture and mining.
“The Roadmap
has provided a strategic framework for Nigeria to build an inclusive and
sustainable mining industry designed to serve a targeted domestic and export
market for iron ore and minerals.”
The minister
hinted, government is developing a Mineral Management Information System for
automating processes and procedures and linking MDAs, adding, “we are in final
stages and we would flag it off soon.”
Fayemi
explained, “once the Decision Support System is fully operational it would
allow the key ministries, in conjunction with other stakeholders, to undertake regionally
based resource corridor analysis.”
He added
that OSIWA is reviewing the legal and regulatory obstacles, financing our
strategic communication activities and legislature to support women in mining
to improve gender inclusiveness in the sector.
Meanwhile,
the ministry, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP)
is working towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) using the
African Mining Vision (AVM) as a guide.
This is
geared towards transforming the African continent from being a destination of
the world’s raw material and consumers of imported products to one that
optimally harnesses its resources to ensure the economic well being of the
citizens.
Minister of
State for Mines and Steel, Abubakar Bawa Bwari stated this at the one-day
Validation of the African Mining Vision Gap Analysis Report organized by the
Ministry in conjunction with UNDP, held at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
Abubakar
stated that the workshop was in preparation towards identifying the gaps
between the Roadmap and the AMV with a view to promoting its domestication in
Nigeria. He said the AMV action plan is centered on nine important clusters,
which if pursued vigorously would become the turning point for African
economies in general and Nigeria in particular.
“The
clusters include Mineral Rents and Management, Geological and Mining Formation
Systems, Human and Institutional capacities, Artisanal and Small Scale Mining,
Research and Development, Mineral Sector Governance, Environmental and social
Issues.”
According to
him, linkages and diversification, which are guiding tools for the prudent,
transparent, efficient development, and management of Africa’s Mineral
resources are most paramount today.
The UNDP has
also adopted a three stage approach for the domestication of the AMV, which
include conducting studies to investigate to what extent national mining
policies are aligned with the AMV; convening a stakeholder dialogue with all
key stakeholders in the sector as well as developing an action plan and
communication strategy for the policy reforms necessary to align national
policies with the AMV.
The minister
commended the agency and all stakeholders for their support towards the sustainable
development of the solid minerals sector, which he said; government is
committed to the promotion of investments in the sector.
The Country
Director, UNDP Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Bwalya, represented by the Senior Economic
Adviser, UNDP, Mr. Ojijo Odhiambo, in his opening remarks noted that Africa is
blessed with abundant natural resources but is yet to benefit from them. He
noted, AMV was adopted in 2009 by the AU Heads of State to promote good
governance, develop human capacity and foster transparency and accountability
among others.
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