On the just-concluded Stable Minerals Ministerial–Legislative Retreat in Abuja, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan known as for better transparency, accountability, and openness in Nigeria’s strong minerals sector, an important pillar of the nation’s financial diversification drive that she described as “clouded by opacity.”
The Kogi Central lawmaker urged the Federal Ministry of Stable Minerals Growth to publish all Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), contracts, and partnership agreements signed with native and overseas entities, insisting that Nigerians should understand how their pure assets are being managed.
“We wish them to be made out there to Nigerians — for us within the Nationwide Meeting and to Nigerians,” Akpoti-Uduaghan mentioned.
“We’d admire in case you deploy the Freedom of Data Act as a result of we’re in an age the place transparency should not simply be a slogan however a regular of governance.”
She famous that publishing MoUs and partnership particulars on the Ministry’s web site would construct public belief, strengthen accountability, and appeal to accountable investments into the nation’s rising extractive business.
“We can’t start to demand accountability if transparency is just not in place,” she pressured. “Making these MoUs public will enable Nigerians to carry each authorities and buyers accountable for the stewardship of the nation’s assets.”
Highlighting her constituency’s plight, Akpoti-Uduaghan lamented the paradox of poverty in resource-rich areas equivalent to Kogi Central, which boasts over 52 strong minerals in business portions but stays economically marginalized.
“We’re a individuals impoverished within the land of lots,” she mentioned. “Every time I meet with my communities, I’m consistently requested when and the way we’ll start to profit from the ample minerals beneath our ft.”
She revealed that some valuable stones — together with ruby, emerald, and tourmaline — are already being mined in states like Cross River with out clear proof of presidency income or public profit.
“It was surprising to be taught that such valuable stones are being mined and traded whereas the nation derives little or no profit. We can’t proceed like this,” she declared.
Whereas commending the Minister of Stable Minerals Growth for ongoing reforms, Akpoti-Uduaghan cautioned that the drive for velocity shouldn’t undermine prudence and due course of.
“Might I applaud the Honourable Minister? His initiative is driving velocity, however we have to be cautious,” she warned. “We should meticulously cross the T’s and dot the I’s in order that we don’t fall into the identical pitfalls that befell the oil sector.”
She emphasised that classes from the petroleum business’s mismanagement and environmental degradation ought to information the rising strong minerals roadmap, calling for proactive coverage, group participation, and robust legislative oversight.
Elevating a fiscal transparency concern, the senator additionally questioned the administration of the Nationwide Sources Fund, which receives 1.68 % of particular funds from the Consolidated Income Fund.
“I want to understand how a lot now we have generated into the Nationwide Sources Fund over the previous three years, and what the present stability stands at,” she queried. “These are public funds, and Nigerians should understand how they’re managed.”
Her remarks drew nods of settlement from lawmakers and contributors, underscoring a rising consensus for stronger oversight of the extractive industries.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s intervention mirrored the broader sentiment of the retreat that transparency stays the muse of accountability, and that Nigeria’s strong minerals sector have to be constructed on openness, equity, and public belief.
“We’re within the digital age,” she concluded. “It received’t take a lot to publish all this data in your web sites. When authorities begins to reveal its engagements, Nigerians can lastly say: sure, our authorities is clear.”
