Federal Gov’t Plans One-stop Shop For Mining Sector 

The federal government is to establish the Nigerian Mining Centre of Excellence (CoE) that will meet the needs of investors in the solid minerals sector.

The permanent secretary of the Ministries of Solid Minerals Development and Steel Development, Dr Mrs Mary Ogbe, disclosed this during the inauguration of members of the Committee for the Establishment of the Nigerian Mining Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

A statement by the deputy director (Information) in the ministry, Alaba Balogun, said the Centre of Excellence will function as a one-stop shop in the mining sector and forms part of ongoing efforts to reposition and ensure the mining sector contributes maximally to the growth of the nation’s economy,

Speaking on the importance of establishing the Center of Excellence, Dr Ogbe explained that it was crucial in numerous ways to the actualisation of the Ministry’s contribution to the growth of the Nigerian economy, as it will foster collaborations among the key departments of the Ministry.

She said: ”The Centre is established to provide a one-stop that will meet the needs of investors in the solid mineral sector of the economy, facilitate the efficient use of the Decision Support System (SS) and promote knowledge-sharing best practices and capacity building within the mining sector’.’

The permanent secretary expressed optimism about the actualisation of the mandate of the CoE to act as a focal point for international partnerships and collaboration in the field of mining investment.

To this end, she stated that the minister of solid minerals development, Dr Dele Alake, has assured that he was willing and ready to support the activities of the CoE with everything it needed to actualise its mandate.

The CoE, according to Ogbe, will foster collaborations among the key departments and agencies of the Ministry which include Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Mines Inspectorate, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Ministry of Steel Development and Office of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

Membership of the Committee included nominated members of the various departments and agencies of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, and will be chaired by the director of Investment Promotion and Minerals Trade Department of the Ministry.