What in your view led to the neglect of the mining sector in the past four decades?

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc Musa Mohammed Sada stated this while declaring open a one -day capacity building workshop on “Environmental Assessments and Compliance for Mining Operators in Nigeria” in Abuja.

The Minister stated that the enactment of section 119 of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007 has made it mandatory for the mining operators to submit to the Mines Environmental Compliance Department of the Ministry, among other things, an approved Environmental Impact Assessment Statement in respect of the proposed mining operation before the commencement of any Mining operation.

Arc.  Sada explained that the Ministry with the support of the World Bank assisted Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources Project (SMMRP) has taken the initiative of organizing this seminar to sensitize the mining operators about the environmental requirements in the mining sector.

The Minister reaffirmed that mining is associated with negative environmental impacts which must be prevented and mitigated for sustainable development of the solid mineral resources in the country.

While reiterating the present administration’s policy of diversifying the national economy from over dependence on revenue from oil, the Minister said there is the need to adequately harness and develop the Mining sector for the continued economic well being of the nation.

While fielding questions from newsmen, Arc. Sada stated that he was already working on the plan of reoperationalising the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO), Itakpe.

He also disclosed that the modalities for the release and expenditure of the Six Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N650, 000,000) approved for the Interim Management Committee for re-operationalising the two companies are being worked out.