By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, has tasked mining experts to identify modern ways of harnessing the mineral commodities in a sustainable manner for the benefit of Nigeria.
Adegbite, who was represented by Engr. Obadiah Simon Nkom, Director-General, Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), made this call during the 57th Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) Annual International Conference and Exhibition, with the theme: Geosciences, Mining and Environmental Sustainability” held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, recently.
According to him, the country needed those with competence for it to get the full potentials from the vast mineral deposits spread across every state and local government area. He enjoined them to come up with clear actionable initiatives that would help drive the vision of the Ministry in actualising its mandate to diversify the economy through the sector.
He said as quoted by the Sun, “I therefore charge experts in this conference to come up with definite milestones and deliverables regarding the untapped potentials of economical mineral endowments in the Country.’’
Also, the Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, delivering his paper on “Addressing Environmental Issues in the Nigerian Mineral Sector: Regulatory Laws; Policies and Practices”, noted that, while the sector provides vital raw materials and energy for a large number of industries, its activities are still commonly considered as a threat to the natural surroundings, with environmental effects on the air, water, soils and landscape.
Dr. Ogah, represented by Patrick Ojeka, Director Artisanal and Small Scale Mining, enumerated the various environmental issues and impacts of mining, noting that one of the Ministry’s technical department, Department of Mines Environmental Compliance (MEC), has the responsibility to ensure that the industry is environmentally conscious and maintains ecological integrity as well as the mandate to enforce environmental compliance in mineral resource development in Nigeria.
Earlier, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who was represented by Dr. Peter Medee, Commissioner for Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, said the theme of the Conference, was very timely considering the global challenges posed by global warming, climate change and energy transition.
