Stakeholders in Nigeria’s mining sector are calling for improved collaboration among various agencies and institutions to boost development. During a pre-conference panel, experts stressed the need for pooling resources, enhancing local partnerships, and centralising geoscience data. Key figures highlighted training collaborations and requested sustainable policies to attract investments and foster innovation within the industry.
Mining stakeholders in Nigeria are urging for enhanced collaboration among relevant agencies and institutions to foster sector development. This call was made during a pre-conference discussion at the 60th Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) Annual International Conference and Exhibition held in Abuja. The conference theme spotlighted innovation in transforming various sectors including mining.
Mr. Olusegun Adedayo, a mining policy advisor, stressed the necessity for local partnerships to elevate Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global mining landscape amidst increasing demand for energy minerals. He highlighted the need for aggregated data on Nigeria’s mineral reserves to attract investors, advocating for joint efforts in research, funding, and geoscience data collection to focus on key minerals.
Adedayo noted the issue of fragmented geoscience data stored in silos across different agencies. He proposed centralising this information to enhance accessibility for domestic and international investors. His assertion underscored the need for Nigeria to invest in its own technological and research capabilities.
Mrs. Aisha Gombe pointed out the significance of collaboration between geology and civil engineering departments in training institutions, noting a lack of engineering geology labs in geology departments. She called for joint efforts between regulatory councils to foster professionalism and safety in the industry.
Dele Ayankele, President of the Miners Association of Nigeria, expressed concerns over the absence of sustainable policies in the sector, identifying this as a major barrier to growth. He urged for the implementation of recommendations from a 2016 government committee tasked with sector transformation to attract investment through technological innovations.
The conference, running from February 16 to 21, will cover topics such as resource management in mining and the role of geoscience in agriculture and food security.
The conference has highlighted the urgent need for collaboration among Nigeria’s mining stakeholders to strengthen the sector. Key discussions focused on data centralisation, joint training efforts, and the implementation of sustainable policies to encourage local and international investment. Emphasis was placed on improving technological innovation and research capabilities as pathways for sector advancement.
Original Source: nannews.ng