FG leverages ICT on mining operations

Stories by Ayoni M. Agbabiaka
Abuja

Following months of extensive work by a team of Ministry of Mines and Steel Development officials and a group of consultants, the federal government has seen the need to leverage Information Communication Technology (ICT) on mode of operations in the mining sector.
To further boost efficiency in the mineral sector, the ministry launched an integrated automation and interactive Geographical Information System (GIS) web portal recently.
Giving his keynote address at the event, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi , said with the launch of the portal, the country has now joined the league of jurisdictions in the global mining space that have deployed technology towards achieving transparency and ease of doing business in mineral sector governance.
According to Fayemi, the e-platform would aid the steady growth of the mining sector and contribute to the realization of the administration’s goal of diversifying the economy’s revenue base, creating jobs, and broadening the range of economic opportunities available to Nigerians.
The minister said that the overall 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. “This would in turn help increase the sector’s GDP contribution significantly.
“Part of the deliverables of this project, among others, include: Business Processes Re-engineering, building of a GIS Web Portal with a Business Automation System, Content Management System (CMS), Geographic Information System (GIS), Decision Support System, collaboration and upgrade of the ICT Infrastructure of the ministry,” he stated.
The minister stressed that the new technology would further reduce the time spent on various processes in the sector as information can now be assessed from any parts of the world, just as transaction could be done from any location.
He listed some of the tasks to be performed by the Web portal to include online processing of mining licenses and mineral titles application; online payment of royalties and fees; as well as database for revenue drive; business intelligence analysis, reports and statistical data generation.
Others include GIS mapping representation of resources within the country; Side stream along the mineral corridor, Deployment of Electronic Document Management System (EDMs); Provision of GIS Laboratory; Provision of Data Centre at Ministry’s Headquarters; Provision of Disaster Recovery facilities within Nigeria; Training on GIS, ERP, EDMs and portal navigation.
Fayemi added that the portal was designed to serve as an input Decision Support System to no fewer than 15 MDAs, the Bank of Industry (BOI), the Federal Inland Revenue Services, and Miners Association of Nigeria.
The minister pointed out that, “The strategy adopted for Go-Live is incremental in nature. Today we are unveiling the following: Content Management System for the Ministry and its Agencies: Market Place comprising of Minerals Commodity Price, certified list of COMEG members, List of mining operators with valid licenses & related minerals they trade on etc.
“Online Application of Licenses and Permit issued by Artisanal and Small Scale Department such as: Formalization of Artisanal Miners, Registration of a Small-Scale Operator, Registration of Private Mineral Buying Centers, Renewal of Private Mineral Buying Centers.
In his welcome address, the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon Abubakar Bawa Bwari, said the unveiling has come as a result of the team spirit among the two ministers; saying that the sector was moribund and was in a bad shape before they assumed office two years ago.
He however claimed that they resolved to make a mark in the sector by designing “a roadmap that we hoped will take us out of the doldrums and lead us on the path to shared mining prosperity.
“Anyone who looks at our roadmap will notice that we have made plans that will in time make this nation a mining destination again. Some of these plans, like the legitimization of artisanal miners, improved funding for the sector, ensuring greater cooperation between states and the federal government and raising the contribution of mining to GDP have achieved modest success.

 

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