The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparent Initiative (NEITI) has urged miners to lead efforts for accountability in the country’s solid mineral sector.
Dr Orji Ogbonaya Orji, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, made this call during a working visit by the Miners Association of Nigeria in Abuja.
Dr Orji emphasized the importance of the meeting, highlighting NEITI’s renewed commitment to engaging with mining companies, especially in light of the Federal Government’s attention to the solid minerals sector.
He stated, “We are passionate about our relationship with the mining companies because you define our scope of engagement with the solid mineral industry. You define the essence of the level of revenue generation in the industry, government take, company profit, and the level of investments that can flow into the industry.”
Explaining NEITI’s role, Dr Orji said, “Our role in engaging with the companies is to draw national and international attention to best practices in transparency and accountability. This is to ensure profitability for the companies in an accountable manner and to provide revenues for the government to meet its obligations to citizens through much-needed infrastructure to support national development.”
Mr Dele Ayanleke, President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), praised NEITI for its efforts in ensuring transparency and accountability in the extractives industry.
He also expressed concerns regarding interference by some state governments that hinder the sector’s growth.
Ayanleke requested NEITI’s support in advocating stronger compliance from subnational entities with the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the solid minerals sector, appealing for NEITI to join the advocacy for sub-national entities to respect constitutional provisions and all relevant legal and regulatory frameworks governing the solid mineral sector.
