Nigeria vows to rescue Africa from mining exploitation

NIGERIA, yesterday, assumed the chair of the new mining pressure group, Africa Minerals Strategy Group ( AMSG), with a pledge to rally Africa against exploitation by outsiders.

Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, pledged after he was unanimously elected the pioneer chairman of AMSG. The election was held during the 30th edition of Investing in Africa Indaba, Cape Town, South Africa. It was attended by ministers of mineral development of Uganda, the

Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC), Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Chad, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia.

Speaking at the signing of a resolution taken at the meeting, Alake charged African leaders to forge a common front to get maximum benefits from mineral resources on the continent.

Alake, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, noted that more than 15 countries had pledged support to grow, as the AMSG under Nigeria’s leadership swings into action.

He said the era of carting away solid minerals was over, charging countries on the continent to speak with one voice on value addition as a prerequisite for investment in the mining sector.

He said: “Today, there is an economic scramble for Africa. The critical metals needed for the energy transition are in Africa. Therefore, if we do not come together this time around and take our destinies in our hands, we will go through the same harrowing experiences of the past. That is why we formed this body.

Recall that Nigeria and Uganda in January rallied African Ministers of Solid Minerals/ Mineral Resources on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum ( FMF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the need to unite and champion value addition in the mining sector to boost the economy of African countries.

“Let those that want our minerals know that if you go to country A, you have the same regulations and laws guiding the sector. You go to country B, you find the same. So, there is no divide and rule anymore.”