TheCable

The federal government, through the ministry of solid minerals development, on Thursday, launched the revised guidelines for community development agreement (CDA) in the mining sector.

Speaking at the event, Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, said the essence of the revised guidelines is to ensure host communities derive maximum benefits from the operations of mining companies.

“The objective is also to ensure the government derives maximum benefits from the exploitation of our mineral resources,” Alake said.

“Today, in the global market, mineral resources are replacing oil. The world is moving from pollution-based liquid minerals like fossil fuel, hydrocarbons, and the like to clean energy.

“Solid minerals constitute clean energy. Gold, bauxite, kaolin, and especially lithium, have already earned themselves a place in the global economy.

“We have them in abundance, and the sky is the starting point, if we sanitise the environment of our mining sector operation.

“A crucial part of that is the launch of this revised CDA guidelines.”

The minister said the mining sector operators will make due profits, host communities will also get maximum beneficiation while the era of government at all levels being shortchanged in taxes and royalties will become a thing of the past.

“The onus falls on us as regulators to play our part to ensure the enforcement of all these guidelines,” he said.

“The host communities must also ensure a free and unfettered environment with up-to-date operations. The companies, too, must ensure that host communities enjoy the benefits of minerals in the belly of their land.

“Without peace, there will be no gain for anybody.”

Alake further commended the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development for partnering with the ministry to develop the revised guidelines, which he described as up-to-date and beneficial to all stakeholders.