African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development

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Effective Natural Resource Governance in Nigeria Achievements and Results (Ebonyi, Ekiti and Taraba States)

The Project Strengthening civic engagement and advocacy for effective natural resource governance in Nigeria, was developed to improve citizens (state and non-state actors) involvement and participation in the governance of natural resources in Nigeria.

Intervention Projects

Key Achievements

  • The intervention in Taraba State influenced the creation of a Ministry responsible solely for solid minerals by the state government. Before the intervention, solid minerals department was subsumed under the State Ministry of Environment.
  • Formation and establishment of Magakap Co-operative established in Ngoroje Community of Sardauna Local Government of the State. The registration of the Co-operative with the State Ministry of Commerce and Industry was finalized November 2018 as part of effort towards formalization. Three other co-operatives including the Mambila Mining co-operative have registered and gone ahead to formalize their engagement with the MMSD by registering with the ASM office in Abuja.
  • In Gashaka, Taraba State, one of the trained mined got grant approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria through the Directorate of Employment to boost his mining activities. He also registered his own company (WEZAN multipurpose company) with the mining Cadastre office to obtain a small-scale mining lease.
  • Centre LSD through the project, influenced the creation of miners database by the Ministry of Solid Minerals in Ebonyi State, who before the intervention were having issues organizing the miners. The Ministry said “getting them to speak to us was a major challenge. We are happy with your coming and this obviously will help us in reaching out to them”.
  • The intervention also influenced the creation of a regular dialogue session with Miners, Companies and Traditional Rulers in Ebonyi State.
  • Ameri Miners Co-operative in Agalegu Ndifu Alike in Ebonyi State was established in the project’s community of focus.
  • Artisanal miners and some elders in Agalegu Ndifu Alike community now have improved skill for negotiation with the management of Royal Salt Company, the major mining company in the community to respect the spirit and letters of the Community Development Agreement (CDA), entered between the company and the community. As a result, Royal Salt on account of this engagement provided employment to 355 youths of the community, constructed their roads and gave scholarship to 5 of the community youths in higher institution and opened a N600,000 annual education endowment fund.
  • In Ekiti State the miners formed and established two major Co-operatives, Ekiti State Alliance Gems Miners Association and Ijero Feldspar Miners Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society.
  • The intervention brought better relationship between the Ekiti State government and the miners. With the coming of Kayode Fayemi as Governor, the relationship has further improved.
  • The Ekiti State government also developed a database of miners on account of the intervention. They meet every Tuesday of the week. For ease of communication, the Ekiti State Governor appointed a liaison officer to be liaising with the miners from time to time.
  • The intervention also influenced Miners adherence and respect for the content of Community Development Agreement – They built a 3 block of classroom and provided a borehole for Ijero community.
  • Centre LSD advocacy and campaign with other Civil Society Groups influenced the passage by the 8th National Assembly the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill.

Projects