The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, on Wednesday, stressed the importance of collaboration with the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to resolve boundary-related conflicts in mining areas.

During a meeting with the Director-General of the Commission, Surv. Adamu Adaji, in his office, Alake noted the critical role the NBC plays in ensuring smooth operations for the ministry, particularly in managing overlapping mining sites and sharing relevant data.

Alake advocated for the transfer of geological data housed by the commission to the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), stressing that centralising such data within the NGSA will simplify data access for stakeholders.

“All geological data in the country should ideally be deposited in the NGSA office. The NGSA’s responsibility should not only be to generate data but also to serve as the primary repository for geological data,” Alake explained.

“This approach ensures that any agency, ministry, or organisation requiring geological data can find it in one place, rather than searching multiple agencies. Fragmented data makes it difficult for investors to gather the necessary information to make informed investment decisions,” he added.

In response, Adaji stated that NBC is committed to working with the ministry and its agencies to ensure clearly defined boundaries for mining areas, especially when licences extend across state boundaries.

He pledged to share any geological data in the commission’s possession with the NGSA to support this initiative.

Adaji also mentioned plans to organise induction training for members of state boundary committees. The training will focus on boundary delineation, dispute resolution, and data generation to assist the commission in fulfilling its mandate.

Dr. Alake, through a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, assured that the NGSA and the Mining Cadastral Office (MCO) would collaborate with the NBC to resolve outstanding issues related to overlapping mining licences.

“Let me assure you of our support to make your work easier because it is in the national interest to foster a peaceful environment for businesses to thrive. Reducing friction in various sectors will benefit the country’s economic development,” Alake concluded.