A professional pressure group, Women In Mining (WIM), has lauded the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, for setting up the Integrated Automated and Interactive Solid Minerals Portal (IAISMP), saying its deployment would accelerate growth in the sector.
President of the group and former National Assembly member, Janet Adeyemi, who stated this in Abuja, said the introduction of the IAISMP has opened up the country’s mining sector for proper monitoring, professionalism and accountability, which are critical to sustainable growth of the sector.
Adeyemi said that the introduction of the modern technology for registration, licensing and other transaction was long overdue, adding that the deployment of the technology by the current leadership of the ministry was an indication of the preparedness of the federal government to diversify the economy and create wealth through mining.
She added that the introduction of the IAISMP would attract many younger Nigerians into the sector.
“Already we are now having more women and younger Nigerians showing interest in mining because of the various policies being put in place which has made it more attractive. The deployment of the Web would make it even more attractive, because processes would become less cumbersome. The portal has opened up the Nigerian Mining sector, both for proper monitoring and for greater global attention.
Adeyemi pointed out that women and children were usually the major victims of illegal and uncoordinated mining activities, adding that the operations of licensed mining operators as well as nefarious activities of illegal miners can now be tracked through the portal..
“Through the web portal, we now know all the licensed miners and where each is operating, so tracking them becomes easy. It will also be easy to determine those who are into illegal mining. We can track you if you are not doing your social corporate responsibility, and you can be reported through the feedback section.
“The beauty of it is that you can sit down in the corner of your room any part of the world and have relevant information on Nigeria’s mining jurisdiction and you can, from there, make payment for your licenses. I think for once we are having the right synergy. We have had too much talk without work, now the government is marching the talk with work,” she said.
