FG seeks collaboration of key stakeholders to harness Nigeria’s natural resources
By Gloria Akudoro, Abuja
The Federal Government is seeking collaboration with key stakeholders to financing sustainable African Natural Resources and Energy Projects.
Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite made the declaration at the opening of its first Nigeria-Africa Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (NAFNIS) recently held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The Three-Day inaugural edition which is themed, “Towards a Greener Africa” has in attendance various African nationals to deliberate and create a framework within which future cooperation and collaboration can take place.
Arc. Adegbite also stated that the Declaration of Cooperation would be of great benefit to producers and consumers and ensure regular review at technical and ministerial levels the status of the cooperation.
He said, “Our joint meetings and activities will support us in formulating favorable policy and strategy development for the natural resource sector as the world looks towards a greener future. A policy that is less subject to extremes, both today and in the future.
“We must strive to remain committed to our joint statements in the Declaration of Cooperation and ensure continuity.”
The Minister who described the convention as crucial said it requires a huge amount of energy generation to drive its development, even as the world shifts away from fossil fuel to clean and renewable energy sources, in the fight against climate change.
“In the midst of this energy transition lies many challenges and opportunities for a continent yearning for development.
“I believe this should spur us as a continent of diverse people to cooperate and collaborate more, initiate innovative solutions to the challenges that are peculiar to us, come up with technologies and products that will lead to the growth and industrialisation of Africa in a more environment friendly manner while encouraging the development and financing of green energy projects,” the Minister expressed.
He, however, assured that the resolution of the technical meetings is going to form an integral part of the critical process of the sector.
Director General, Mining Cadastre Office, Engr. Simon Nkom said one of the cardinal achievements of the agency is the migration of information to real-time in which application can be made from within the headquarters and zonal offices to anywhere in the world for investors to access. Although the portal is not yet out to the public, it will be launched anytime soon.
Engr. Nkom said the migration to real-time is key to sustainable economic development as it will accelerate investment in Nigeria and Africa at large, increase transparency with a policy framework that will attract investment from key players.
Also speaking, the Director General, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Dr. Abdulrazaq Garba, revealed that data is key to mining and the government has been able to generate data packages to align with the nation’s policy and inline with international standards in a way it appears easy for the right investors to come on board.
He said this has helped eliminate the barier of not being able to generate data that’s easily understood by investors for quite some time.
Different panelists sessions were held which focused its discussion on Maximizing Mineral Potential on how to attract private investments, Commercialization of Natural Gas and Clean Path to Economic Development.
