Group seeks mine emergency fund to tackle collapses
Group seeks mine emergency fund to tackle collapses
The Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) has called for a Mine Emergency and Community Recovery Fund to mitigate human and material losses from mine collapses across Africa.
AMSG Chairman, Dele Alake made the call at the third AMSG High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in New York, United States.
A statement of the event was made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja by Alake’s Special Adviser, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan.
The event, which held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly on Monday, was chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima and attended by African ministers of mining.
Alake, who is Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, also proposed an African safety facility to formalise artisanal mining and promote cooperatives across AMSG member countries.
He expressed concern over the recurring tragedies of mine collapses in Africa, citing huge losses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic.
He also referenced recent deaths of detained suspected illegal miners in Nigeria, emphasising the need for stronger emergency response and community support mechanisms.
“Each time one of these tragedies occurs, I have had the painful responsibility, as the chairman of this group, of conveying our condolences but condolences, however sincere, can not be the limit of continental solidarity.
“Behind every casualty figure is a family that has lost a breadwinner, a child who may no longer return to school,” he said.
The AMSG Chairman acknowledged the contributions of artisanal and small-scale miners to supporting livelihoods and supplying minerals to domestic and international markets, urging governments to formalise rather than criminalise their activities.
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“AMSG can mobilise governments, financiers and investors around the billion-dollar mineral corridors.
“We should also be capable of mobilising expertise and resources to prevent miners from entering unsupported pits without geological guidance, basic safety systems or credible emergency response,” he said.
He signed the Continental Integration and Economic Assurance Declaration (CIEAD), saying it would provide political assurance for the coordination of bilateral and multilateral projects.
He said the declaration would facilitate predictable regional infrastructure and processing investments while strengthening collaboration among governments on continental projects.
Earlier, Vice President Kashim Shettima called on AMSG to champion African industrial development by cooperating with foreign companies and governments based on shared values and mutual gains.
Shettima said Africa’s mineral resources must be used to modernise the continent and improve living conditions, stressing that no foreign government can protect African countries’ interests better than the countries themselves.
The roundtable featured discussions involving experts from regional agencies, international institutions and captains of the mining industry.
