By Etta Michael Bisong
Solid mineral experts in Nigeria have blamed the weak regulatory enforcement as the major cause of poor mining activities across the country.
The stakeholders who raised the concern during a media training on Solid Mineral Mining organised by Global Rights in Abuja, identified issues such as lack of proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), poor awareness on mining laws and lack of political will to enforce existing regulations.
Country Director of Global Rights Nigeria, Abi Baiyewu, said more awareness mostly on host community rights is needed to ensure effective participation as well as proper coordination of the sector.
Speaking also at the event, Director of Mines and Environmental Compliance in the ministry of Mines and Steel development, Engr. Salim Salam, blamed the absence of proper manpower for the poor regulatory enforcement in the sector.
Participants at the workshop identified capacity for journalists and funding for research as some of the setbacks that must be addressed to foster growth in the sector.
