Mining stakeholders in Nigeria have called for greater collaboration among relevant agencies, sectors, and institutions to advance the sector’s development.
This appeal was made on Monday, February 17, 2025, in Abuja at the 60th Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE) during a pre-conference panel discussion.
The conference is with the theme “Transformation of the Mineral, Energy, Water, and Construction Sectors through Innovations”.
One of the discussants, Mr. Olusegun Adedayo, emphasised that Nigeria needed to enhance local collaborations to compete globally in the mining sector, particularly given the rising global demand for energy minerals.
Adedayo, an advisor on mining policy and strategy, highlighted the importance of having concrete data on Nigeria’s mineral reserves to attract investors, which could only be achieved through collaboration.
He identified critical areas for cooperation, including research, funding, geoscience data collection, and prioritising specific minerals for development.
“There is a clarion call for everyone to collaborate, pool funds, research, and focus on particular minerals.
“We don’t need to be a jack of all trades. Let the academicians conduct research, let the geologists handle exploration, and let the investors put money in.
“We need to develop the sector from start to finish,” he said.
Adedayo also pointed out the issue of limited geoscience data, stating that while such data existed, it was fragmented across different agencies.
He emphasised that it needed to be centralised in one repository for easy access by both local and international investors.
“Everyone says there’s not enough geoscience data, but the truth is, data exists in silos.
“If all the data from the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency and practitioners were stored in one place, we’d have more information to work with.
“We need to focus inward on technology, research, and investment. We can’t expect others to do it for us,” he said.
Another discussant, Mrs. Aisha Gombe, emphasised the importance of collaboration in training institutions, particularly between the departments of geology and civil engineering.
She noted that many Nigerian geology departments lacked engineering geology labs, which were available in civil engineering departments and could be used for joint purposes.
Gombe, a specialist in engineering and geo-environmental practices, also stressed the need for collaboration between the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria and the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists.
She emphasised that such collaboration was crucial to ensuring professionalism, safety, and efficiency in the mining and related industries.
In his presentation, the National President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dele Ayankele, decried the lack of policy sustainability in the sector, which he identified as a key challenge hindering growth.
Ayankele noted that a Federal Government think tank committee set up in 2016 to develop a roadmap for sector transformation had not seen its recommendations implemented.
He further stressed the need for sustainable policies to attract both local and international investors, alongside technological innovation to facilitate investment and mobilise the necessary funds for the sector.
The conference runs from February 16 to 21.
Sub-themes to be discussed include “Resource Management and Value Addition in the Minerals and Mining Sector” and “Managing Emerging Realities in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Sector.”
The role of geoscience in agriculture and food security will also be discussed.
By Martha Agas