Dr. Kayode Fayemi
Listing the major plans Federal Government has in place for the Mineral and Mining Sector, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, reemphasized that the vision is to reposition the industry to contribute revenue base optimally and create job opportunities for citizens.
Dr Fayemi stated this on Thursday in a goodwill message he delivered at the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development’s Strategic Engagement virtual meeting with 774 Local Government Council Chairmen and other critical Mining Sector Stakeholders.
The message contained in a press release was issued yesterday to journalists by Olayinka Oyebode, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ekiti State.
The Governor noted that the committee which drafted the roadmap for the growth and development of the Nigerian Mining sector in 2016 focused on building consensus on the critical actions required to move the industry forward, including engaging all the stakeholders.
He advocated the need to continue to ensure that grassroots stakeholders were well-positioned to participate meaningfully in the industry, stressing that the local inhabitants must first benefit from any mining activities in their locality.
The benefits from these mining activities in the local communities include employment generation, poverty reduction and promotion of rural economies.
Dr Fayemi, who was Minister of Mines and Steel Development between 2015 and 2018, stated the need to empower grassroots stakeholders to eradicate exploitative labour practices and gender inequalities in the industry, thereby promoting environmental justice and ensuring safety and security in mining communities.
He assured the delegates that Ekiti State and the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, would continue to work with the Ministry to strengthen cooperative federalism and the beneficial participation of all stakeholders in the sector.
Governor Fayemi expressed satisfaction with the vision of positioning the Nigerian mining sector as a frontier of the Buhari administration’s goal to diversify our revenue base.
He said the vision had created shared prosperity for all, and the sector made remarkable progress under the watch of Minister Adegbite and Minister of State Ogah.
“It seems like only yesterday that we set up a committee to draft the Roadmap for the Growth and Development of the Nigerian Mining Sector. The committee, which comprised critical stakeholders from across the country, did a good job building consensus on the important actions required to move the sector forward.” He noted.
He commended stakeholders for showing a spirit of consultation that midwife the roadmap, stressing that it’s the same momentum driving the implementation of the vision.
For reasons mentioned earlier, Fayemi attributed the implementation to why the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development authorities have deemed it fit to engage the leadership of the third tier of Government – the Local Government Chairpersons and other critical stakeholders in the sector.
He said the parties involved should note that all mining is local while urging that community inhabitant at the grassroots should always be the first to benefit from mining activities in their domains.
Inhabitants, he said, are expected to witness the generation of employment opportunities, reduction in poverty, and promotion of rural economies.
“In keeping with the provisions of the roadmap, we must continue to ensure grassroots stakeholders are well-positioned to benefit optimally from mining activities going on in their respective communities. Conversely, the local communities are primarily affected by the negative impacts of illegal mining, harmful mining practices, and the other legacy challenges the industry has been working to address and are therefore best positioned to lead the efforts in addressing them.” The Governor said.
The former minister said Government must empower their localities to help eradicate exploitative labour practices and gender inequities in the industry, promoting environmental justice and sustainability in mining operations.
He assured the Government would guarantee the safety and security in mining communities and protect the nation’s commonwealth from economic saboteurs.
Fayemi revealed that Ekiti State is proud to have supported the Ministry by playing host to the 3rd Edition of the Annual National Council on Mining and Mineral Resources Development in November 2019.