Nigeria’s Mining Host Communities: A Bright Future Ahead
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has given Nigerians hope for a brighter future amidst the current challenges. Speaking at the 2023 West African Mining Host Communities Indaba, he emphasized the need for sincere and patriotic efforts to ensure that mining host communities receive the attention and treatment they deserve. According to Alake, the President has prioritized the solid minerals sector, and his deployment to this sector reflects the government’s commitment to positive change.
The indaba, themed ‘Insecurity and Minerals Governance in West Africa: Building Mechanisms for the Protection of Mining Host Communities’, brought together stakeholders from various countries to address security challenges, share best practices, and foster collaboration for inclusive and sustainable development.
Alake urged everyone to work together towards creating enduring structures and economic progress for the nation. He emphasized the importance of enhancing the relationship between operating companies and host communities, enunciating policies that advance community progress, and ultimately benefit the entire nation.
Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), highlighted the need for mining host communities to benefit from the utilization of resources extracted from their areas. He stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in the governance of mineral resources, acknowledging the challenges faced by these communities and the urgent need for resolutions.
Orji called for a special security outfit for the mining sector to combat illegal miners and cartels, similar to the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) that fights drug trafficking. He emphasized the responsibility to govern resources with transparency and accountability, ensuring equitable benefits for the people and protection of the environment.
Abiodun Baiyewu, the Executive Director of Global Rights, Nigeria, highlighted the exclusion of extractive host communities from decision-making processes and emphasized the need for open and inclusive dialogue. She called for a human security paradigm to address challenges in resource exploitation and governance, focusing on the theme ‘Insecurity and Minerals Governance in West Africa: Building Mechanisms for the Protection of Mining Host Communities’.
‘Dele Ayanleke, the President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), expressed concern over the legal and regulatory frameworks of the solid minerals sector. He emphasized the need for collaboration and the adoption of successful community models, such as the Komu experience, to promote peaceful and harmonious relationships between mining operators and host communities.
The discussions at the indaba underscored the importance of collaboration, transparency, and accountability in the governance of mineral resources. The commitment to addressing security challenges and promoting sustainable development in mining host communities reflects a collective effort towards a brighter future for Nigeria and West Africa as a whole.