The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD) has begun the engagement of stakeholders aimed at developing legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks towards the emergence of new mining environmental management guidelines.
Speaking at the 1st stakeholders engagement forum on the guidelines held in Abuja recently, the Director, Mines Environmental Compliance (MEC) Department, Engr. Jacob Udor explained that as part of the strategy towards successful implementation of mining projects in the country in line with the diversification agenda of the federal government, the ministry, through its World Bank assisted Mineral Sector Support for Diversification (MINDIVER) project, engaged Project Consult of Germany to carry out the review of legal and regulatory frameworks for for environmental management, the design of policy frameworks to apply World Bank safeguard policies, and the development of mitigation measures and guidelines for addressing conflicts between Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners (ASMs) and other land users in the country’s mining and steel sector.
He said the event became necessary in view of the fact that no such project objectives could be achieved satisfactorily without proper information sharing among stakeholders.
“This event is necessary to incorporate mechanisms for engaging with key stakeholders across the country to promote the project and related activities effectively,” he said, add it would create the needed awareness about work done and ensure effective communication between project partners, stakeholders, and the general public.
Explaining to newsmen on the sideline, the immediate past director of MEC and next MINDIVER project Coordinator, Engr Sallim Salaam said now that the federal government is focusing on the sector as an avenue for diversifying the nation’s economy, it is expected that there will be a rapid increase in mining activities including beneficiation and processing which will trigger a lot of Environmental and social issues on one side and a lot of agitations.
“To address it proactively is what the World Bank project is out to do, and we want a situation whereby all those concerned will be properly informed that the have a role to play in addressing any environmental and social crisis that may accompany the expected surge in mining activities.
“We want them to know that the process of reviewing the extant guidelines is on course and we need their input so that all mistakes and interests are taken care of.
“We expect to see more meetings like this and more actions ahead,” he said.
Project Consult also made a presentation on what it has been doing on the project before the stakeholders.
