Nigeria has emerged the pioneer chair of the newest mining pressure group on the continent, the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), following the unanimous election of the minister of solid minerals development, Dr. Dele Alake, to head the continental body.
Speaking at the signing of the resolution, Dr. Alake urged African leaders to forge a common front to get maximum benefits from the mineral resources in their domain.
He said, “Today, there is economic scramble for Africa. The critical metals needed for energy transition are in Africa. Therefore, if we do not come together this time around and take our destinies in our hands, we will go through the same harrowing experiences of the past. That is why we formed this body.”
According to a statement by Segun Tomori, special assistant to the minister, Dr Alake stated that the era of foreigners taking away the continent’s solid minerals was over, as he urged countries on the continent to speak with one voice on value addition as a prerequisite for investment in the mining sector.
“Let those who want our minerals know that if you go to country A, you have the same regulations and laws guiding the sector; you go to country B, you find the same, so there is no divide and rule anymore. That is when we can show sincerity of purpose, and the world will begin to take Africa seriously. On behalf of our president, I pledge our full support to achieve our objectives,” the minister asserted.
The event, which was held on the sidelines of the 30th edition of Investing in Africa Indaba, Cape Town, South Africa, was attended by ministers of mineral development of Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Chad, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia.
It was gathered that more than 15 countries have pledged their support, with the list expected to grow as the AMSG under Nigeria’s leadership swings into action.
Nigeria and Uganda had in January rallied African Ministers of Solid Minerals/Mineral Resources on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the need to unite and champion value addition in the mining sector to boost the economies of African countries.
