Nigeria can attract mining giants and funding for mining development through the generation of big data, the Women in Mining in Nigeria (WIMIN) have posited.
In an interview with pressmen in Abuja on Monday, the national president of WIMIN, Janet Adeyemi said that even though Nigeria is endowed with vital minerals needed for the global energy transition, it must have a record of proven reserves certified by a competent person or company.
“We keep on talking about the fact that Nigeria has the largest deposit of bitumen. Nigeria has so many diverse minerals, but there is something in mining: you must have a proven reserve by a competent person.
“This will help Nigeria access funds for its development and also attract big players to invest in the sector, boosting the country`s gross domestic product,” she said.
The president said certified mining reports, in addition to attracting investors to the sector, will ensure Nigeria benefits from such collaborations, especially through value addition to its minerals.
To gain from the solid minerals sector, she said Nigeria must improve its sustainable development policies with community engagement tools such as community development programmes, social impact assessment, and stakeholder mapping.
She further stated that policies on benefit-sharing mechanisms, capacity building, partnerships with NGOs and traditional institutions, as well as collaboration between the government and mining companies would reposition the sector.
The president said that for Nigeria to diversify and develop its local economy, it must take advantage of the abundant solid mineral resources it possesses in commercial quantities across its states.
To minimise the risk associated with mining activities, Ms Adeyemi said professionals should be engaged.
“We have to be very strict with the mining companies because mining can be very devastating and destructive.
“We need to have experts who do the environmental, social and governance certification to make sure companies are compliant,” she said.
She extolled the efforts of the minister of solid minerals, Dele Alake, in ensuring a gender-inclusive sector.
