The President of the ECOWAS Federation of Chambers of Mines (EFEDCOM), Mr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, has enjoined large-scale mining companies in the sub-region to promote innovative mining practices that protect the environment and enhance the livelihoods of people. This, he said, will ensure that responsible mining practices gain grounds in West Africa.

Mr. Addo-Kufuor was speaking at Nigeria’s Mining Week celebration held in Abuja from 16^th -19^th October, 2017. The event, which is the 2^nd edition, brought together captains of the mining sector, entrepreneurs and businesses from other sectors of the Nigerian economy and the sub-region.

The Nigeria Mining Week celebration comes on the heels of the recent phenomenal development of the minerals sector in West Africa’s economic powerhouse. The event brought together stakeholders across the country and beyond to network and identify opportunities in the sector for further development.

Mr. Addo-Kufuor praised the collaboration between the Miners Association of Nigeria and the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in putting together the event and emphasized the benefits of a well-developed mining sector for Nigeria’s economy. He stated that “there is the need to look beyond tax revenues and to harness linkages between mining and other sectors of the Nigerian economy in order to drive the country’s industrialization agenda.” Mr. Addo-Kufuor stressed the need for clear and consistent mining laws and regulations as a critical ingredient in enhancing confidence and attracting investment into the sector.

Touching on illegal mining, Mr Addo-Kufuor explained the complex and regional nature of the problem by sharing experiences from Ghana and steps being taken by the Government of Ghana and other key actors to address the problem. He called for private sector collaboration with Governments in the sub-region in exploring alternative livelihood opportunities to help address the challenge.

Mr. Addo-Kufuor, who is also the President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, stated that the Federation is committed to working with Governments and other organizations in the sub-region to provide thought leadership in addressing the issues plaguing mining.

The Nigerian Minister for Mines & Steel Development, Hon. Dr Kayode Fayemi, who was the special guest speaker at the event, indicated that his Ministry was seeking to remove the negative perception among investors about the high risk of doing business in Nigeria. He stated that positive reviews in international journals on Nigeria’s mining sector are testaments to improved investment conditions in the country.

He added that access to finance, availability of operational support and the establishment of the Solid Mineral Development Fund are areas that the government has focused on to help improve the sector. He called for close collaboration between state regulators and Civil Society Organizations to ensure effective mining operations.

Delivering the welcome address, President of Mining Association of Nigeria (MAN), Alhaji Mohammed Sani Shehu, praised the efforts of the Nigerian Government for ensuring that the event came to fruition. He indicated that the MAN will lend its support to the country’s Mining Investment Strategy Team to monitor the implementation of key programmes of the Government in boosting investments in the mining sector.

Alhaji Shehu emphasized that the crackdown on illegal mining would only succeed if the Government continues to protect the operations of the registered small scale miners. In his estimation, failure to protect the registered and properly regulated miners would not influence the illegal operators to formalize their operations.

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