Must Read: Things Fayemi Should Do Immediately As Minister of Solid Minerals

Ex-governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi is the new Minister of Solid Minerals and Steel Development. His responsibility therefore, will be to oversee an industry that has the potential to be a major cash cow, yet lacks adequate regulation and a proper structure.

Minister Fayemi has his work cut out for him, and here are 10 things he should kick off immediately:

1. Fayemi should look into and address the lack of synergy between state Ministries of Mines and the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steels.

2. Fayemi should address the inadequacy and incompetence of the personnel in the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

3. Fayemi should create a relationship between mining host communities and his ministry.

4. The Minister should work on removing mining from the Federal exclusive list, so states can be able to regulate mining activities in their domain.

5. He should also ensure that there’s strict adherence to laws guiding environmental pollution and degradation in mining communities.

6. Fayemi should strictly enforce the rules and regulations guiding mining activities, specifically artisanal miners.

7. The Minister should work with Global Rights, an international human rights capacity-building organisation, that has a vast experience in touring and bringing awareness to the plight of residents of mining communities.

8. He should ensure that Environmental Impact Assessment is carried out before mining licenses are given to artisanal miners.

9. Fayemi should breathe life into the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee in all the states of the federation.

10. Fayemi should set up a mechanism for the training of community heads, education of artisanal miners, vetting of licenses and monitoring of mining activities.