Expatriates may dominate Nigeria’s mining sector, experts warn

Expatriates may soon take a bigger chunk of the nation’s mining sector, unless the Federal Government put in place measures to stop it, the Chief Executive officer, Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEJ), Mr. Patrick Ojeka, has said.

Speaking during a seven-day capacity building programme organised by the body in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, he attributed the development to the decision of local miners to welcome foreign operators into the industry.

The forum tagged, ‘Professional Development Training on the Preparation of Bankable Mining Feasibility Report,’ drew participants from different sectors.

He said: “Foreign operators are increasing by the day in the country. Local operators, who have the capacity, are partnering with foreign miners, by bringing them to Nigeria. Already, some companies from Europe and Asian are mining minerals in the country, following their approval by the Federal Government years ago. Some persons are bringing foreigners especially Chinese to explore mineral resources in the country. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Mines and Steel do not have the capacity to determiners the expatriates’ quota. As a result, the issue of checking the influx of foreigners into the Nigerian mining sector becomes a problem.”

According to him, illegal miners are increasing in the country, adding that they include people, who misapplied their titles, use explosives for mining among others, who refuse to follow the laid down principles that are guiding mining.

Also, while delivering a paper titled, ‘Overview of the Nigerian Mining Sector and its Opportunities,’ a don, Zaccheaus Opafunsho, said foreign mining companies are gradually taking advantage of opportunities, which Nigerians are supposed to explore.

Opafunso, the first Nigerian Professor of mining said Ghana has been sustaining its economy through gold for years, adding that the country cherishes gold highly. He said Ashanti gold mine was closed down by the Ghanaian Government for nine years and opened several other mining centers in the country.

Also, the Geocardinal Engineering’s Technical Director, Engineer Titi Adeyemo, urged the participants to study the operators of the sector well, lean on how to prepare a bankable mining feasibility report among others.