Boosting Nigeria’s Mining Profile: The Establishment of the National Geodata Centre
The federal government made a significant stride in Nigeria’s mining sector with the unveiling of the National Geodata Centre (NGC) in Abuja. This milestone, executed through the World Bank-assisted MINDIVER Project at the Nigerian Geological Survey (NGSA) headquarters, signals a new era for the country’s mining industry.
During the commissioning ceremony, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite, expressed his enthusiasm for the establishment of the geodata centre during his tenure. He highlighted the advantages it brings to Nigeria as a mining nation, stating that it will not only attract local investors but also appeal to international stakeholders.
Adegbite emphasised the significance of the geodata centre in providing easy access to online mining data, eliminating the need for physical visits to the ministry. He elucidated, “A geo-data centre represents the long term national geoscience knowledge base essential for identifying the mineral potentialities of a country.”
Drawing parallels with successful mining countries like Australia, Canada, and Namibia, Adegbite stressed the pivotal role of geodata in influencing investor decisions. He credited the World Bank’s support through the MINDIVER project for enabling Nigeria to gather data that will bolster the mining sector’s appeal to potential investors.
The minister underlined the digital accessibility of the geodata centre, which will continuously update information relevant to the mineral sector. He also highlighted that the centre’s connectivity with the NGSA’s offices in Kaduna and the National Steel Raw Materials Development Agency will facilitate easy access for both local and international investors.
Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, underscored the government’s commitment to the geodata centre, citing its role as a reliable repository of digital geoscience information. Akinlade further explained that the British Geological Survey (BGS), UK, was engaged to establish the infrastructure to ensure enhanced accessibility to mining investors, researchers, and the general public.
The director general of NGSA, Abdulrazak Garba, expressed appreciation to the minister, the MINDIVER team, and technical partners for their collective efforts in bringing the project to fruition.
The establishment of the National Geodata Centre marks a significant step towards positioning Nigeria as an attractive destination for mining investments. With enhanced access to geodata, the nation is poised to unlock its mineral potential and usher in a new era of growth and development in the mining sector.
