Address unauthorised mining activities to attract investors – Experts   

Address unauthorised mining activities to attract investors - experts   The Society for the Promotion of People’s Rights, an NGO, wants government of all levels to provide an enabling environment to attract investors in a bid to fast-track development in the sector.

Mr Williams Osaze said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Osaze said that the enabling environment would not only attract investors but would improve and promote development in the country.

According to him, the global community is looking for mining stakeholders or experts to develop their investments.

“When they are sure of investing without challenges, they will confidently bring in the needed resources that will advance the sector.

“Nigeria needs to give that confidence to such investors that the effort will support the development of the sector, ’’ he said.

Osaze said that the mining stakeholders should strongly collaborate with the government to ensure that programmes and projects in the sector would be effectively implemented.

He said that the determination would as well help the investors to market what they had in their domain.

He stressed the need for state governments to register their own mining companies and use them to acquire mineral titles across the country.

He said that the move would not only promote the sector, but address some of the challenges in the sector.

Osaze said that the government should also engage stakeholders on open conversations that would help in mitigating critical obstacles limiting the sector.

He said that there was a need for a conducive environment that would encourage mining activities.

According to him, mining is a dynamic industry that the global economy is moving toward minerals that can support green energy.

He said there were materials that support production of minerals which as well could be more innovative.

The president said that the Federal Government should address overlapping challenges among all tiers of government as the bureaucratic measures could continue to distance investors.

He advised that the stakeholders should complement the government’s efforts with necessary assistance that would help to overhaul the sector.

Osaze called on relevant stakeholders to address unauthorised mining activities, lack of protection for miners as such efforts would help the sector to advance effectively.

He also urged the stakeholders to tackle challenges faced by the sector, adding that the problems had led to lack of investment, effective implementation of projects and programmes in the sector.