The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) has put in motion strategies aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals captured in the African Mining Vision (AVM).
The collaborative effort 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 God-given resources to ensure the economic well being of the citizens.
The Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Abubakar Bawa Bwari stated this at the one-day Validation of the African Mining Vision Gap Analysis Report organised by the Ministry in conjunction with UNDP in Abuja.
Abubakar stated that the workshop was geared 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 centred 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, Artianal and Small Scale Mining, Research and Development, Mineral Sector Governance, Environmental and social Issues and Linkages and Diversification which are guiding tools for the prudent, transparent and efficient development and management of Africa’s Mineral resources”. The minister added.
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 UNDP and all stakeholders for their support towards the sustainable development of the solid minerals sector. He assured of government’s commitment to the promotion of investments in the sector. He also called on all potential investors to come and do business in Nigeria.
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 said 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.
Thumbs up for policy makers