Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State says the state has adopted a tripartite framework in the solid minerals sector to ensure mutual benefits for investors, the government, and host communities while promoting responsible mining practices.
Mr Sule stated this on Thursday in Abuja at the fifth edition of the African Natural Resources and Energy Summit (AFNIS), themed “One Africa, One Resource Vision.”
He said that the state government remained committed to encouraging responsible mining operations and creating an enabling environment that would boost investor confidence.
According to him, responsible mining entails a system in which all stakeholders derive benefits from mining activities.
“First, the investor must receive a fair return on investment. Second, government revenues must be clearly defined and protected. Third, the interests of host communities must be safeguarded.
“It is therefore a tripartite arrangement in which everyone benefits,” he said.
The governor explained that the state operates within a regulatory framework that mandates Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), ensures proper regulation of mining activities, promotes revenue transparency and supports continuous land reclamation.
Mr Sule said the government had gone beyond policy commitments by establishing financial support mechanisms to attract and sustain investments in key sectors.
He disclosed that the state had set aside five per cent of its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) into a legally established Infrastructure Fund dedicated to supporting investments, particularly in mining and agriculture.
According to him, the fund is being used to provide investors with critical infrastructure, including access roads, electricity, security and other essential facilities required for business operations.
“This is why we proudly say that Nasarawa State is open and ready for business,” he said.
Mr Sule described AFNIS as an important platform for advancing the objectives of responsible mining and leveraging Africa’s mineral resources for sustainable development.
He expressed optimism that the discussions, partnerships and commitments emerging from the summit would significantly shape the continent’s resource economy in the years ahead.
The governor also extended an invitation to investors, development finance institutions, technology providers, industrial partners and other global stakeholders to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria, particularly in Nasarawa State.
“We offer not only abundant natural resources and strategic mineral deposits but also a government that is committed, transparent, stable and investor-friendly,” he said.
The governor stated that Africa’s economic future would depend on effective collaboration among governments, investors, innovators, development institutions, local communities and international partners.
He said that stronger partnerships would enable the continent to move beyond exporting raw materials and focus on value addition through local processing, while advancing a shared vision for prosperity and development.
“I am particularly pleased with the theme, ‘One Africa, One Resource Vision’, and the emerging collaborations and associations that are being formed,” he said.
(NAN)
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