07/12/2025
STATE-OWNED MINING COMPANY'S FORGE HISTORIC ALLIANCE TO UNLOCK NIGERIA'S SOLID MINERALS SECTORS.
ABUJA-NIGERIA
In a strategic move poised to reshape Nigeria's mining landscape, Managing Directors of state government-owned mining companies have united to form a powerful new coalition, known as "Forum of Managing Directors of State Government-Owned Mining Companies."
The landmark inauguration, in a key sideline event at the recent Nigeria Mining Week, signals a concerted push by sub-sovereign authorities to harness the nation's vast solid mineral potential through collaboration rather than competition.
The Forum elected Engr. Shuaibu Kabir Bello, Managing Director of the Kaduna Mining Development Company (KMDC), as its pioneer Chairman. Dr. Mongol, the MD/CEO of Benue-Geo Mining Company Ltd, was elected as the Forum's Secretary.
Anchored by the Kaduna Mining Development Company, the Forum is established as a central coordinating mechanism to strengthen governance, enhance competitiveness and accelerate reforms across state-level mining enterprises. Its primary mission is to align state-level initiatives with the Federal Government's overarching mining sector reforms.
In his acceptance remarks, the newly elected Chairman, Engr. Shuaibu Kabir Bello, underscored the Forum's necessity. "The fragmented approach has limited our impact. By pooling our resources, data, and expertise, we can present a unified front to investors, tackle common challenges like funding and equipment, and speak with one voice on policy matters. This is a game-changer for the mining sector in Nigeria," he stated.
The Forum's Secretary, Dr. Erdoo Mongol, added, "Our collaboration will be driven by actionable work plans. From unlocking geoscience data to facilitating equipment leasing partnerships, we are moving from rhetoric to tangible projects that will de-risk the sector and attract the needed capital."
Strategic Objectives and Collaboration Tracks
The Forum has outlined a clear, action-oriented mandate with immediate objectives, including:
1. Adopting a Shared Vision: To formalize a common vision and a detailed, time-bound work-plan to guide the Forum's activities.
2. Launching Key Collaboration Tracks: The Forum will immediately activate joint initiatives in critical areas, including:
· Exploration & Geoscience Data.
· Access to Finance & Guarantees: Collaborating to secure funding and financial guarantees for large-scale projects.
· Equipment Leasing: Establishing a framework for the shared use of high-cost mining equipment.
· Skills & Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE): Developing standardized training and safety protocols.
· Policy & Regulatory Alignment: Ensuring state-level policies are harmonized with national and regional reforms.
3. Constituting Governance Structures: The Forum will now move to establish a Board of Trustees, appoint Patrons and an advisory team, and set up a permanent Secretariat and technical sub-committees to drive its ambitious agenda.
Industry stakeholders at the event hailed the formation of the Forum as a long-overdue strategic intervention. It is expected to serve as a critical bridge between the federal government and state-level implementation, ultimately creating a more cohesive, competitive and attractive mining ecosystem for both local and international investors.
