By ABAH SUNDAY, Abuja
Professor of Law and team lead, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development (Centre LSD) study group, Prof. Peter Akper, has stated that Natural Resource Governance is central to socio-economic discourse of the people because of increased awareness and demand by the people that their natural resources should be sustainably exploited and the proceeds properly managed for the benefit their collective benefit.
Prof. Akper made the assertion in Abuja as stakeholders of the extractive industry in Nigeria reviewed and validated a Centre LSD Research Report titled, “West African Regional Policies on Natural Resource Governance: Lessons and Policy Recommendations for Nigeria.”
The don described Natural Resource Governance (NRG) as the set of norms, institutions and processes that govern the exercise of power, decision-making, and participation of citizens in managing natural resources.
He expressed concern that despite the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) subregion’s vast mineral resources, it suffers from ‘resource curse’ or ‘paradox of plenty’ as the abundance has yet to translate in the improvement of the living conditions of the people.
According to him, the extractive sector has only developed in enclaves, thereby limiting its potential to catalyse broad-based development in line with the African Mining Vision.
Discussing other gaps which the report has addressed, he said: “The absence of appropriate NRG frameworks and poor implementation due to weak laws and institutions have made the ECOWAS region susceptible to intersectional issues such as natural resource-induced conflicts, benefit sharing agitations, lack of inclusivity, discrimination, Sexual Gender-based Violence, and occupational health and safety concerns.”
He said the research and its outcome aims to put in place proper NRG frameworks and effective implementation needed for sustainable exploitation of the region’s resources and management to promote inclusive growth and improvement in the living standards of the people.
Discussing key finding and recommendations of the report, Prof Peter Akper said lamented that ECOWAS Region lacks a petroleum sector policy, a gap which, according to him, needs to be addressed, adding that the ECOWAS Mining Policy does not align with the African Mining Vision adopted by African Union Heads of States and Governments in 2009.
The Centre LSD 2024 research work also revealed that Nigeria has the highest number of child labourers among ECOWAS member states.
“Child labour remains a significant issue in the mining sector, with Nigeria having the highest number of child labourers among ECOWAS countries,” the report said.
