The Nigeria mining state is a state of non-compliance with policies, policy sabotage, and also policies conflict. These issues can still be traced to irregularities in the sector from conflicting interests of different parties ranging from corruption to ingenuity to services from some quarters of interest.
I would have been highly indebted if kudos had not been given to every step taken to make the sector better in the right direction by past Ministers of Solid Minerals that has evolved with different portfolios/names that still translate to the same extractive industry for their effort to bring the nation to the current point at which we found ourselves. Not forgetting the parastatals, professional associations, donors and international agencies, operators, and mining communities for their immeasurable effort to make the industry better. I am aware of the options and irreplaceable suggestions that have been offered towards sailing the boat of the industry to a great destination. They have also suggested bright ideas on what could drive the industry forward. I believe their suggestions and opinions still stand.
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This article does not go against these scholar's opinion but further suggest ways to make the opinions right and possible solutions to other reoccurring problems.
The sector at the time last has witnessed approval of the Road Map for the Development of the Mining Sector 2012 and the Roadmap for the Growth and Development of the Nigerian Mining Industry, 2016 aimed at fast-tracking the development of the sector. The road map appears to have provided the focus needed to address the challenges in the mining sector.
The 2012 roadmap was able to identify the following as major problems in the industry
• Inadequate geoscience data is needed to support the detailed mineral investigation, development, and exploitation.
• Inadequate infrastructural facilities such as roads.
• A very high proportion of Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners (ASM) operations driving mineral exploitation in the country resulting in environmental degradation and exposure to high-risk and health hazards due to the use of unsafe mining and mineral processing practices.
• Lack of adequate legislation.
• Low institutional and human capacity.
The essence of this was to diversify and also improve the GDP of the industry. However as the case stands today after the launch of the Road Map, most of the objectives and performance targets were not met. The mining sector was still contributing dismally to GDP and nowhere near that target of 5% as envisaged. This was due to the non-implementation of its objectives, poor strategies adopted by the government, and lack of political will.
The data collected between 2003 and 2009 has been described as insufficient to describe insufficient for initiating and building investors' confidence in the industry.
Today, these problems still stand and we are still looking for a way out of the problems.
Now, we have a new government. Splitting the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development into the Ministry of Solid Mineral and Development Minister of Steel Development, and Minister of State and Steel Development is a right step in the right direction.
Honorable Minister sir,
I suggest the Road Map of 2016 can still be revisited and brought back to life. Proper implementation with achievable goals needs to be determined. The sector needs funds in the right direction to help improve the infrastructure necessary for enticing investors. Not forgetting a correct data-gathering structure that is capable of convincing investors to come to the country. I will also say that the security of anyone coming to this country to work needs to be fortified, and policies between the Federal government and State government need to be straightened up to avoid irregularities in policymaking.
On this note, I believe Nigeria will climb back to its original position as a giant of Africa, and give life to her people.
Author by Engr. Samuel Babalola
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