FG Revises Guidelines for Mining Communities

The federal government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) yesterday, launched the revised guidelines for Community Development Agreement (CDA) in the mining sector.

Giving a keynote address at the event, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, said the revised guidelines would give  host communities  maximum benefits from mining operations without rifts and enable operators meet their obligations to the government.

“The objective is also to ensure the government derives maximum benefits from the exploitation of our mineral resources. “Today, in the global market, mineral resources are replacing oil. The world is moving from pollution-based liquid minerals like fossil fuel, hydrocarbons, and the likes to clean energy. Solid minerals constitute clean energy.

“Gold, bauxite, kaolin, especially Lithium that has already earned itself a pride of place in the global economy, we have them in abundance, and the sky is the starting point, if we sanitise the environment of our mining sector operation. A crucial part of that is the launch of this revised CDA guidelines, “the Minister buttressed.

Throwing more light on the aim of the revised guidelines, the Minister asserted that mining sector operators would make due profits, host communities would also get maximum beneficiation, stressing that the era of government at all levels being shortchanged in taxes and royalties would become a thing of the past.
“The onus falls on us as regulators to play our own part to ensure the enforcement of all thesen guidelines. The host communities must also ensure a free and unfettered environment for smooth operations. The companies, too, must ensure that host communities enjoy the benefits of minerals in the belly of their land. Without peace, there will be no gain for anybody, “Dr. Alake added.

The Minister commended the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development for partnering with the ministry to develop the revised guidelines, which he described as up to date and beneficial to all stakeholders.
At the unveiling of the revised guidelines were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe, Director, Mines Environmental Compliance  (MEC), Mrs. Vivian Okon, Executive Director, Centre for Learning and Strategic Development, Mr. Monday Osasah, amongst others