The 7 point agenda has raised by the honorable Minister of Solid Mineral Development Mr. Dele Alake to be the pivot of solutions to problems facing the industry has been applauded by many. Personally, I see the implementation as the start of new beginning in the industry, which will propel the industry to the same stage as other nations of the world where mining adds value to their development.
The 7 point agenda are to solve the following problems:
• Inefficient geo-data
• Weak implementation of policies
• Poor environmental, safety, and health policies
• Fragility, conflict, and unregulated artisanal mining
• low technical capacity
• Lack of access to financing
• weak inter-governmental and inter-agency coordination, and weak federal/state relationship
Previously, we have considered the inefficient geo-data as one of the main reasons why it has become very difficult for foreign investors to come to the industry, and personal views on what could be done to resolve these issues. We also discussed the previous weak implementation, effects, and reasons to strengthen implementation this time around towards the successful 7-point agenda.
To complete these views, I would also share my view on the next points.
POOR ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY, AND HEALTH POLICY
To think of a strong environment is to think of sustainability and eco-friendliness, and Nigeria's attempt to increase awareness and policies to address climate change has not been successful. Mining on the other hand is a destructive activity that needs proper engagement, and sadly, the mining operation has been noted to affect sea level rise which is one of the implications of climate change. This can be traced to illegal mining activities and the inability to monitor and regulate mining activities from a few licensed operators. It is no longer news that the industry is largely driven by artisans with no or little professional view on environmental management. For instance, the deaths of some people in Plateau State who were later confirmed to have died of lead poison that found its way to the nearby river where some people in the community get drinking water can be described as environmental hazards caused by these sets. The list goes on and on endlessly.
In my view it is a welcome idea and a right step in the right direction to see environmental management as part of the policies to be strengthened. I would suggest strengthening MEC (Mines Environmental Compliance) - an arm of Ministry of Mines or set up agencies that strictly look into environmental management aside NESREA whose primary purpose is to look into the same area but not mines alone. I also want to suggest a private partnership on the same issue. NGOs can also be useful in strengthening awareness and training artisans on these policies, relatively after clusters are formed which will be part of my later suggestion in bringing illegal miners together.
FRAGILITY, CONFLICT, AND UNREGULATED ARTISANAL MINING
To have a license to mine in any community, the federal government made it part of the process of earning a license by including the consent of the land owners as part of the criteria to earn permission, and submission of documents like the community development agreement, and environmental management plans, all to prevent conflicts and fragility. To a large extent, these documents are still not enough to monitor or prevent chaos of any kind.
Banditry, conflict and violence has in one way or the other spotted in some mining environment which are traced to collaboration between politically connected Nigerians and Chinese corporation in illegal mining of gold and some other valuable minerals. In this view, Zamfara gold comes to mind. This period was marked with banditry and kidnapping that subsequently led to total ban of mining in Zamfara state. The kidnapping became so intense that it spread across the entire region of the North-Western part of Nigeria. It was reported that Nigeria lost several billions of Naira to the hands of the bandits which the military could not overcome.
Artisanal mining has been described as the major driver of the industry and the failure to regulate these people gave rise to illegal miner. The illegal miners has been the sources of mineral mismanagement, environmental haphazard, and reasons behind the loss of revenue for the government. We can also link poverty and toll hardship to be the major reasons for illegal mining activities, and until illegal mining stops the struggle continues.
These and many more are good examples of what unregulated, and illegal mining activities could do to a nation like ours.
To have this as part of the 7-point agenda is a beautiful way to redeem the dwindling fortune of the industry.
In my view, I would suggest proper monitoring and surveillance in the industry, and well-coordinated artisanal miners free from political directives. Transparency in the industry, and well-coordinated operators in the industry. I would also suggest the integration of the illegal miners. Understanding the hardship and training them to regulate their activities goes a long way.
I suggest getting artisanal miners in the form of guilds in all local governments. Having surveillance teams among them to fish or report illegal miners goes a long way. This guild will help the government in the following ways:
• Help the surveillance team to get illegal miners in their locality
• They will serve as a source of information on minerals discovered in the environment.
• Serve as cluster to benefit from training on environment, safety and health and financial benefits from the government.
• Can also serve as a means of generating revenue for the government.
• The guild can eventually put an end to illegal exploitation of minerals.
To be continued.........
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