Nigerian Urges Mining Communities to collaborate for efficient Operations 

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. OlaDele Alake says host communities need to collaborate with the Nigerian government to ensure efficient mining operations across the country.

Dr. Alake stated this while receiving the President of Kogi State Traditional Rulers Council, from North-Central, Nigeria, HRH Ata Matthew Opaluwa, who paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja, the nation’s Capital.

While restating the commitment of the Nigerian Government to protect and ensure the rights of communities, The Minister also reaffirmed the significance of host communities and traditional rulers to the conducive environment required for the socio-economic development of the host communities.

“Whatever we can do to ensure a peaceful, operating environment, we will do. We also need the cooperation of locals in partnering with the government to ensure better security. If we have peace around mining operations, we will be able to attract more investments in the mining sector. The government, on its part, is rejigging the security architecture to address contemporary security challenges besetting the sector and also factoring royalties for communities into every mining operation,” The Minister added.

The President of Kogi State Traditional Rulers Council, in his remarks, commended the Minister for his efforts, thus far, in repositioning the mining sector, noting however, that unlicensed miners and those operating without requisite agreement with host communities remain an albatross, posing security challenges to locals.

HRH Opaluwa also sought the intervention of the Minister in addressing this whilst also advocating for prominent roles for the host community’s paramount rulers to protect the interests of the people.

Dr. Alake, while responding, assured HRH Opaluwa that the Ministry’s Mines Inspectorate would be strengthened to ascertain the authenticity of mining agreements, promising the inclusion of Traditional Rulers in signing agreements on behalf of host communities.

To ensure the payment of due royalties and protection of community rights, the Minister revealed that plans are underway to reposition the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) for optimum efficiency.

Dominica Nwabufo