Kayode Fayemi, Nigeria’s minister of Mines and Steel Development on Thursday unveiled Integrated Automation and Interactive GIS web portal, a cutting-edge initiative that leverages technology for innovation, efficiency and effectiveness in mineral sector governance.
The key objective of the project was to increase provision of reliable information and knowledge to enhance promotion of investment in the sector using technology driven innovation,which industry analysts said would help increase the sector’s GDP contribution from the current 0.05%.
Fayemi at the unveiling explained that the portal is aimed at creating effectiveness and efficiency in the sector as the portal simplifies the modalities of the activities of the sector.
He pointed out that the activities of the mining sector has gained a better investment risk profile when compared to other countries adding that the sector has so far recorded a huge increase in its activities.
According to Fayemi,”The World Bank Risk Report on the global mining sector published by the Mining journal indicates that Nigeria has made remarkable improvements in both hard risk and perceived risk factors about conducting businesses in Nigeria’s mining space.”
Fayemi said,”Royalties,fees for range of services,both at the state at the state level and the headquaters, and is also linked to Government Integrated Financial Management System, GIFMIS. It is linked to Remitta. Fees that are collected in Cash will no longer be hitherto collected in Cash. This will address revenue leakages”
“Also,it would also aid the work on going in recovering back royalties,and taxes,in our revenue management system. All in all leakages will be significantly reduced,through innovative system”
”For us it is not mainly GIFMIS, our concern is appropriate pricing,and our miners should get value for their products,and they should not be cheated out of by middle-men, who come and exploit them,because they don’t have access to that International Markets. These are the gains of these portal”
Speaking further on the main components on the portal,he said,” The portal consist of a Spacious data base,online mining licenses, mineral title application, payment of royalties and fees, credible mining information among other functions.
Also speaking, Abubakar Bawa Bwari, minister of state for mines and steel development explained that the portal was conceived as a means of making mining information accessible to its users and the general public. He noted that the portal is intended to ease the entire mining activities, Licensing and prompt solutions to reported challenges as identified in the sector.
According to Abubakar:”The portal is intended to ease the process of Licensing, providing credible and timely solutions to identified mining challenges. The portal was conceived as a means of making mining information accessible to its users and the general public”.
Tajudeen Olabanji the representative of the Minister of communications commended the sector for the success of its initiative, stating that the ministry look forward to more successful collaboration with the sector.
