Boundaries critical to conflict resolution in mining areas — Alake

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake has harped on the need for collaboration with the National Boundary Commission to tackle boundary-related conflicts in mining areas.

Speaking while receiving the commission’s Director-General, Surv. Adamu Adaji, in his office, Alake, highlighted the significance of the agency in enabling smooth operations of the ministry, particularly regarding overlapping mining sites and relevant data.

The minister made a case for the transfer of geological data domiciled in the commission to the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), emphasising that making the agency a one-stop domain for such data will enable organisations to streamline their search for geological data.

“All geological data in the country should ideally be deposited in the NGSA office. The primary responsibility of NSGA should not only be for the generation of data but also the depository of data as long as it is of a geological nature. This is crucial so that any agency, ministry, or organisation needing the data will just have one place to go, rather than searching several agencies. When data is fragmented, it becomes tedious for investors to gather the necessary data to guide their investment decisions,” the minister said.

In his submission, Adaji stated that the commission is seeking synergy with the ministry and its agencies to ensure properly defined boundaries in mining areas, especially where mining licenses straddle the boundary. He promised to make available any geological data that might be in its custody to the NGSA.

The NBC DG hinted at an impending induction training for members of state boundary committees to sensitize them on boundary delineation issues in communities, how to resolve boundary-related disputes and generate the requisite data that will assist the commission in fulfilling its mandate.

In the spirit of renewed collaboration, Alake affirmed that agencies of the ministry like the NGSA and Mining Cadastral Office (MCO) will work with the commission to resolve outstanding cases of overlapping mining licenses.

“Let me assure you of our support to make your job quite easy and smooth because it is in the overall interest of the country to create a peaceful environment for businesses to thrive. If we can reduce friction in several quarters, the better for us, the better for the economic development of the nation,” the minister added.

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