Non-governmental organisations at the forefront of campaigns for the rights of host communities have urged the House Solid Minerals Committee to further review the net extraction revenues for host communities in the proposed minerals and mining bill and re-enact them at 10 per cent in view of the extractive burdens they bear.
Groups comprising the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF) and Neighborhood Environmental Watch (NEW) Foundation made the recommendation in a memo on the 2023 Minerals and Mining Bill that proposes that five percent of the net value of extraction go to communities.
In a memorandum drafted by the groups, such an increase is fair and appropriate and will address the pressing needs of such communities, many of whom are merely bystanders as their land wealth is expropriated.
At the Public Hearing on the Minerals and Mining (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2023 and the Nigeria Mineral Development Company Limited Creation Bill, 2023, held in Abuja on Wednesday (July 17), the groups also encouraged the federal government to formalize artisanal and small-scale miners so that they can access loan facilities and begin operating within accepted standards.
The groups' memorandum proposed that all artisanal and small-scale miners should be documented in a Miners' Registry open and domiciled at the State Ministry of Mining/Solid Minerals, local government area headquarters and mining communities.
They disapproved of the excessive powers given in the proposed Bill to the Minister of Solid Minerals in Section 4, which they say should be subject to further review as most of the proposed functions are duplications of what the Ministry of Environment should be carrying out.
For example, the group questioned Section 4(u) of the Bill which proposes that the Minister of Solid Minerals shall have the power to designate a mineral as a radioactive mineral and by radioactive regulations make special provisions for the exploration, exploitation, possession, export or any other dealing in the radioactive mineral.
Article page with promotion of financial support
Instead, he proposed that the powers of the Minister of Solid Minerals be shared with other relevant ministries, including the environment ministry.
READ ALSO: Tinubu sets conditions for mining licence in Nigeria
They found fault with specific items listed that the bill proposed to include in the Community Development Agreement, such as educational scholarships and employment opportunities, and responded that the agreement should be flexible enough to allow the host community to determine exactly what it wants or what it wants to use the funds it receives for, as its needs may change depending on the situation.
Explaining the committee’s motivation for repealing the previous Act, Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi, said the Public Hearing is a continuation of the Public Policy Dialogue on the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 held on Monday, 12 and Wednesday, 13 February 2024, where participants overwhelmingly demanded a review of the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 to reflect current realities.
He promised that committee members would take into account the recommendations of the hearing participants in a final document.
Elvira Jordan
Head of Press Affairs
08024194844