The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake has commended the commitment of stakeholders in the mining industry assuring that a new mining act will generate maximum economic benefits from the solid mineral sector, as a major contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the nearest future.
Alake disclosed this during a stakeholder meeting organised by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development on Mining Policy Dialogue and Amendment of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
A statement signed by the Head of Information and Public Relations, Alabama Balogun, stated that the Minister highlighted the commonality of purpose existing between mine operators, policy makers and government on the need to deliberate and review the Nigerian Mining Act 2007, to gain economic benefits from the solid minerals sector.
”You and us in the Ministry have the same objective, and what is the objective, to ensure that we enhance the operating environment of Solid Minerals in Nigeria with a view to maximizing the benefits for you and all of us and of course, for the generality of Nigerians,” Alake added.
He alluded to several initiatives and policies of the Ministry in the past one year of being at the helm of affairs. These recorded milestones, he stated, has received positive reactions from Nigerians, international investors, policy makers and observers.
To this end, Alake affirmed that the stakeholder meeting for reviewing the mining act is a positive step to reposition the sector as a pivot around which all other sectors of the Nigerian economy revolve.
“I want to appeal to everyone of you to keep up the flag, keep up the strides , and keep on achieving in your various individual and corporate endeavors.
“At the end of the day, we wish all of us to come out with a new Nigerian Mining Act that will take cognizance of the interest of all sectors, with the interest of all stakeholders, the operators, companies, the policy makers, those of us on this side of the divide, and of course the generality of Nigerians,” Alake stated.
Addressing participants during the stakeholders engagement workshop; from a broad spectrum of mining operators, civil society organizations and other critical stakeholders; the Permanent Secretary, Dr Mary Ogbe emphasized the importance of proffering actionable solutions that will enhance the competitiveness of our mining sector.
”We are here not just to discuss challenges but to find actionable solutions that will enhance the competitiveness of our mining sector, promote transparency, ensure environmental sustainability, and ultimately improve the livelihoods of all Nigerians,” the Permanent Secretary stated.
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