The Federal Government has said that it is addressing the challenges for the growth of the mining sector in the country. 

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Chief Sarafa Tunji Isola made the remark when the President and members of Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers paid him a working visit. 

The essence of the visit was to commend the Ministry for the efforts it has taken for the growth of the mining sector and the society’s resolve to partner with it for the realization of that vision in the country  

The Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers was led by its National President, Engineer Olusegun Oladipo during the visit. Chief Isola said that the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has decided to develop seven strategic solid minerals out of a total of about 34 solid mineral resources in the country because of their economic importance. 

The Minister explained that the development of the seven strategic minerals: Gold, Bitumen, Coal, Barytes, Iron-Ore, Limestone, Lead/Zinc will in the short run, contribute significantly to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product. The seven strategic minerals are considered to have comparative advantage over the remaining 27 in terms of availability of geological information. 

Chief Isola disclosed that to realize the dream of developing the seven strategic minerals, a committee has been set up in the Ministry to address the challenges of developing each of them. 

The Minister disclosed that the challenges for developing the mining sector and the seven strategic minerals which government was addressing include: putting in place mining regulation policy, an effective mining cadastre system, human capacity development, beneficiation plants, network of roads to mine sites, network of rail lines and power generation. 

The Minister disclosed that the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has prepared a mining regulation which will be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice next week for necessary input as a legal framework to be approved and used in the mining sector. 

Chief Ishola said that what was needed in the mining sector was the mining regulation and an effective Mines Inspectorate system which were being put in place. 

The Minister disclosed that other mining nations like Canada, Australia and South Africa do not have mining cadastre agencies but they have effective mining cadastre systems to carry out mining operations. 

He stated that for now, Nigeria does not need a mining cadastre agency but an effective mining cadastre system. He disclosed that mining cadastre office will operate as a department in the ministry of mines and steel development but not as an agency. 

The minister disclosed that Nigeria’s Mining Cadastre system is effective and one of the best in the African continent. 

In order to address the challenge of human capacity development in the mining sector, chief Ishola disclosed that before the end of July 2008 experienced and qualified professionals would be engaged to run the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences, Jos, Plateau state. The Minister thanked the President and members of the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers for their visit and assured them that their views and suggestions would be taken into consideration as stakeholders to develop the mining sector. 

Speaking earlier, the President of Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers, Engineer Olusegun Oladipo said that the purpose of their visit was to commend the ministry for the efforts it has taken for the growth of the mining sector and the society’s resolve to partner with the ministry for the realization of that vision in the country. 

According to Engineer Oladipo, the developmental strides achieved in the ministry for which it was commended include: the commissioning of the Minerals and Metals complex, the public presentation of Nigeria’s Minerals and Mining act of 2007 and the launching of Nigeria’s Minerals and Metals policy. 

The president of the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers said that the Society was established on June 24, 1989 in Jos, Plateau state and incorporated in 1990. 

According to the President some of the aims and objectives of the society include: To bring together all the mining and mineral processing engineers in Nigeria as members to advance the science and practice of engineering in the fields of mining and minerals processing; to ensure the maintenance of high standards and regulation of professional practices in mining and related industries and ascertain high academic and professional standards in mining and related programmes in institution of higher learning in Nigeria. 

The President of the Society said it has been contributing to the growth of the mining sector and Nigeria’s economy through the presentation of its views and position to Government in the minerals sector. He reiterated that the society would continue to support Government towards the growth of the mining sector and the nation.

Towards the growth of the mining sector and Nigeria’s economy, the President of the Society advised Government to put in place the Act establishing the Mining Cadastre Office and the regulation of the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act of 2007. 

To address the challenge of inadequate qualified and skilled mining engineers and mineral processing engineers in the mining sector, Engineer Oladipupo advised that government should expedite action in the proper management of the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences, Jos, Plateau state.