Nigeria's Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), Dele Alake, has called for the establishment of a Mine Emergency and Community Recovery Fund. This fund aims to provide immediate assistance to victims and communities affected by mining disasters across Africa. The proposal was made during the third AMSG High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development, held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.
The AMSG High-Level Roundtable, chaired by Nigeria's Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, brought together African ministers responsible for mining and other stakeholders in the sector. The event provided a platform for discussions on critical minerals development and the challenges faced by the continent. Alake also signed the Continental Integration and Economic Assurance Declaration (CIEAD), designed to provide political assurance for the coordination of bilateral and multilateral projects across the continent.
Alake expressed concern over the frequency of mine collapses in Africa, citing significant losses in Congo and the Central African Republic, as well as recent cases of detained suspects of illegal mining who died in Nigeria. He emphasized that condolences alone are insufficient and that continental solidarity must translate into tangible actions. The minister highlighted the devastating impact of mining disasters on families and communities, pushing them deeper into poverty.
The minister praised artisanal and small-scale miners for supporting millions of livelihoods across the continent and supplying minerals to domestic and international markets. He urged governments to formalize rather than criminalize these miners. Alake proposed an African safety facility to formalize artisanal mining and promote co-operatives in member countries. This initiative aims to prevent miners from entering unsupported pits without geological guidance, basic safety systems, or credible emergency response.
The Continental Integration and Economic Assurance Declaration (CIEAD) is expected to facilitate predictable regional infrastructure and processing investment. It encourages governments to collaborate on continental projects, promoting shared values and mutual gains. Vice President Shettima called on AMSG to champion African industrial development by co-operating with foreign companies and governments based on shared values and mutual gains.
Earlier, Vice President Shettima emphasized that Africa's mineral resources must be used to modernize the continent and provide better living conditions. He stressed that no foreign government can protect the interests of African countries better than the countries themselves. The third AMSG High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals also featured discussion sessions involving experts from regional agencies, international institutions, and captains of the mining industry.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Finance Corporation, Samaila Zubairu, commended the AMSG, arguing that African countries can no longer wait to industrialize if they must feed, house, and clothe a billion people in the next 24 years. To confront this challenge, Zubairu said African governments must collaborate across regions, as unilateral efforts cannot cope with the proportion of the problem.
Key points
- The proposed Mine Emergency and Community Recovery Fund aims to provide immediate assistance to victims and communities affected by mining disasters across Africa.
- The Continental Integration and Economic Assurance Declaration (CIEAD) seeks to facilitate predictable regional infrastructure and processing investment.
- The Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) aims to champion African industrial development by co-operating with foreign companies and governments based on shared values and mutual gains.
