By Francis Kadiri, Abuja.
The mining sector in Nigeria is governed by archaic policies which must be reviewed to pave way for the growth and sustainable development of the sector; a 2024 Report of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Develop (Centre LSD) has said.
The Report, titled “West Africa Regional Policies on Natural Resource Governance: Lessons and Policy Recommendations for Nigeria,” was validated by Nigerian mining industry stakeholders in Abuja, on Wednesday May 29, 2024.
It called for the enactment of mineral development policies that will conform with global standards, saying: “The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development should articulate a comprehensive minerals and mining policy that aligns with the African Mining Vision (AMV),” noting that the extant mining policy framework is archaic and unsuitable for the expected growth of the Nigerian mining industry.
“The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development should be re-organized to excise its regulatory functions and focus on policy formulation, supervision of Agencies, investment promotion, and external liaison with international organizations.”
The report said the regulatory functions of the technical departments should be vested in the independent regulator, adding that NGOs operating in the mining sector should prioritize sensitization programmes targeting women, girls and other affected segments of society, especially within mining communities.
Furthermore, in its recommendations, the Report, which research was supported by the Ford Foundation, stated: “Nigeria’s fragmented policy framework is archaic and unsuitable for the sector’s development,” adding that the sector needs a policy that aims for inclusive governance, including roles for national and sub national governments, Mineral Title Holders, Mining Host Communities, and Civil Society Organisations.
“Nigeria needs to strengthen her policies, laws and institutions for effective implementation of relevant Policies and Laws in the Extractive sector.”
While saying that the Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 should be emended to strengthen identified gaps such as the absence of a strong sector regulator, it said there is need for policy makers to incorporate intersectional and governance issues in the regulatory framework of the sector.
The Report stated: “The Mining regime does not align with the prescription of ECOWAS Regional Instruments,” adding that the detachment necessitates a Local Content Legislation.
“The Desk review identified absence of a regional policy and law in the Petroleum sector as a significant gap given the rich hydrocarbon deposits in the region.”
“It revealed commendable and similar provisions in the Regional Instruments and Nigeria’s policy and legal regime on key issues such as Ownership and control of minerals, state participation, local content development, localization/CSR, Health, Safety and Environment and Access to information.”
“The Review identified as a significant challenge implementation gaps in the Policy and Legal frameworks especially with respect to intersectional issues which was attributable to weak institutional Capacity.”
