Dr. Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, has repeatedly emphasised that in order to resolve boundary-related disputes in mining regions, cooperation with the National Boundary Commission is essential.
Speaking at the commission’s Director-General’s reception in his office, Surv. Adamu Adaji emphasised the agency’s critical role in facilitating the ministry’s seamless operations, notably with regard to overlapping mining sites and pertinent data.
In support of the transfer of geological data from the commission to the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), the minister emphasised that doing so will allow organisations to more efficiently search for geological data by making the NGSA a one-stop shop.
“All geological data in the country should ideally be deposited in the NGSA office. The primary responsibility of NSGA should not only be for the generation of data but also the depository of data as long as it is of geological nature. This is crucial so that any agency, ministry, or organisation needing the data will just have one place to go, rather than searching several agencies. When data is fragmented, it becomes tedious for investors to gather the necessary data to guide their investment decisions, ” the minister said.
In his response, Mr. Adaji said that the commission is looking to collaborate with the ministry and its agencies in order to guarantee that mining regions have clearly defined limits, particularly in cases when mining licenses cross such boundaries. He committed to providing the NGSA with access to any geological data that it could possess.
In order to raise members of state border committees’ awareness of boundary delineation difficulties in communities, teach them how to settle boundary-related conflicts, and help the commission gather the necessary data, the NBC DG made hints about an upcoming induction program.
In keeping with the spirit of renewed cooperation, Dr. Alake confirmed that the commission will collaborate with ministry organisations such as the NGSA and Mining Cadastral Office (MCO) to address unresolved issues of outstanding cases of overlapping mining licences.
” Let me assure you of our support to make your job quite easy and smooth because it is in the overall interest of the country to create a peaceful environment for businesses to thrive. If we can reduce friction in several quarters, the better for us, the better for the economic development of the nation, “the minister added.
