As part of efforts to address the lack of access to geological data and promote the ease of doing business in Nigeria, the federal government has launched the Nigerian Minerals Resource Decision Support System Software, NMDSS.
Oladele Alake, the minister of Solid Minerals Development while launching the software in Abuja on Tuesday, said the significance of the software is to promote ease of doing business in the Mining sector
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According to Alake, the portal underscores the commitment of the federal government to expanding access of prospective investors to necessary information about Nigeria’s mineral deposits, policies guiding the mining sector and incentives for investment from anywhere in the world.
He added that the NMDSS is a marketing strategy to enhance the ‘ease of doing business’ in the solid minerals sector.
“The software when fully operational, will demonstrate the seriousness of this administration about investment promotions and accelerate the setting up of businesses in the mining sector” he said.
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Speaking further, Alake emphasised that the support system will assist critical stakeholders in the mining sector and potential investors to garner requisite information, bringing them closer to the industry and providing answers to pertinent questions about mineral deposits and mining infrastructure amongst others.
Highlighting ongoing efforts to sanitise the mining sector, the Minister revealed that the nefarious activities of illegal miners are being curbed by the recently unveiled mining marshals, whilst about 152 cooperatives have been formed by artisanal miners to legalise their operations, in line with his 7-point agenda.
In his remarks, the Minister of Interior, Hon. Tunji Olubunmi-Ojo lauded the transformative leadership that his solid minerals counterpart has brought to bear on the mining sector, noting that the launch of the NMDSS is a game-changer that will attract more foreign investments.
“Saudi Arabia today has a non-oil industry contributing over 50% to her Gross Domestic Product (GDP). If Saudi Arabia can do it, Nigeria can do it, and the journey starts with the ministry of solid minerals. With a workaholic and visionary minister like Dr. Alake, working earnestly to attract the big players and also supporting local operators, the sky is the starting point. For us in the Ministry of Interior, we are there to support because a reformed mining industry is the pivot of the Renewed Hope agenda, “Hon. Olubunmi-Ojo said.
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Also speaking, Mary Ogbe, permanent secretary, to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, charged critical stakeholders in the mining sector and Nigerians at large to market the nation’s vast solid minerals potentials, stressing that reforms of the present administration are steadily repositioning the mining sector.
In his welcome remarks, Salim Salam, the project coordinator the MinDiver recalled that in the year 2016, institutional analysis of the sector conducted through Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, SWOT analysis revealed identified challenges that were taken against the Renewable Development Sector and necessary mitigating measures were conferred.
Salam recalled that “One of the major challenges identified with the sector then was lack of the scientific data capable of de-risking the sector to attract renewable investments. Next to this was a lack of institutional capacity. I am glad to inform you that a lot of investments have been made in these areas.
“Through the MWPT, the Ministry of Mining and Sustainable Development, specifically we have covered the proof-of-concept areas, with airborne geophysical survey and geochemical survey in addition to the state-of-the-art topographic mapping and as a result, more mineral targets have been established and more infrastructures have been established and are now fully operational.
“This equipment is not limited to the EMC Plus at the Mining Cadastral Office, the Mineral Resources Division support system which we are going to launch today, the Road Sensing Centre which will soon be launched later and you will get to know about this, laboratory facilities in the departments and agencies of the Ministry”, he said
“What we want to do today is in two forms. It is the practical demonstration of the achievements made in the area of geosciences data generation and the ongoing mineral resources division support system. We are promoting this investment to encourage investments in the sector.”
