….AFNIS Summit sets the stage for a new era of sustainable development, and mineral resource control in Africa
TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA
Stiffer measures to curtail raw mineral exports and enhance value addition dominated discussions among African ministers of mining at the Ministerial Roundtable, marking the commencement of the annual Africa Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) in Abuja.
This development was contained in a statement by Mr. Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, on Wednesday.
The measures under consideration include an upward review of license fees, royalties, and charges, along with increased support for indigenous miners and making value addition a prerequisite for obtaining licenses.
Dr. Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Chairperson of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), urged member countries to take control of their mineral resources, capitalizing on the global shift towards green energy to maximize the benefits of their mineral wealth.
He emphasized the summit’s role in fostering dialogue, sharing knowledge, and strengthening the AMSG’s focus on value addition for rapid economic development.
“The Africa Natural Resources & Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) is another opportunity to consolidate our ideas and put them in motion towards attaining our stated objectives. I hope that at the end of our deliberations, Africa will recognize our seriousness. We are confident that through the support of ministers here, we can get the endorsement of our heads of state for necessary policy actions,” Alake stated.
AMSG Secretary-General Moses Engadu from Uganda underscored that the Roundtable, themed “Sustainable Development for Africa’s Natural Resources,” provides a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, and offering policy guidance for transformative actions toward sustainable development.
Leading a cross-section of ministers in presentations, Malawian Minister of Mining, Monica Chang’anamuno, called for concrete plans for infrastructure development, critical for mineral resource development, and advocated for collaboration based on comparative advantages among African countries.
Chadian Deputy Minister of Petroleum, Mines, and Geology, Oumar Moussa, proposed the creation of an African fund for exploration, development of continental expertise in the mining value chain, and centers of excellence for innovation and clean technologies.
Other speakers emphasized the need for commitment to agreements and enhanced collaboration to harness the continent’s natural resources for shared prosperity.
Urging his colleagues to take a cue from Nigeria, Dr. Alake made a case for local content, mandating substantial Indigenous representation in mining operations. “In Nigeria, we have a policy that we refrain from granting licenses to foreigners wholly; there must be a Nigerian partner.
This is a policy other African countries should adopt. Since the inception of AMSG, we’ve introduced initiatives like intra-Africa trade, and I believe that we cannot do this effectively without the active collaboration of our private sector,” he asserted.
Secretary-General Engadu announced the upcoming launch of the “Africa for Africans” initiative, aimed at innovative programs for mineral resource development and the establishment of the Africa Minerals Development Fund (AMDF).
“This fund, inspired by Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), will be championed by Nigeria and structured to assist local miners across the continent in accessing required funding,” he said.
Countries represented at the Ministerial Roundtable included Nigeria, Uganda, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Liberia, and Chad. Nigeria’s Minister of Steel Development, Shuaib Abubakar Audu; Minister of State, Uba Maigari; and Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, along with other continental private sector players, were also in attendance.
