Forum Calls for Action on Natural Resource Governance Issues

• Mr. Monday Osasah emphasized learning from West African mining laws to improve Nigeria’s natural resource governance, supported by the Ford Foundation
• Professor Peter Akper noted that weak laws and institutions in ECOWAS lead to poor resource management, causing conflicts and exclusion

Mr. Monday Osasah, Executive Director of Centre LSD, urged improved governance of natural resources. This call was made during the validation of a research report titled “West African Regional Policies on Natural Resource Governance: Lessons and Policy Recommendations for Nigeria” and the inauguration of the Natural Resource Governance Group (NRGG).

Osasah emphasized the need to learn from West African mining laws to enhance Nigeria’s approach, with support from the Ford Foundation. He stated, “The main lesson for Nigeria is the focus on reviewing West African mining laws and policies. I believe this research will serve as an essential reference for everyone.”

He added that the research would offer valuable insights for various organizations in Nigeria’s asphalt sector, aiding effective natural resource management.

Professor Peter Akper (SAN), the Team Lead of the Study Group that developed the report, explained that Natural Resource Governance (NRG) encompasses the norms, institutions, and processes that guide power, decision-making, and citizen participation in resource management. Akper stressed that NRG is crucial due to growing public demand for sustainable resource exploitation and proper management of proceeds for public benefit.

Despite the ECOWAS region’s wealth of minerals like bauxite, gold, and petroleum, Akper noted that it still suffers from the “resource curse,” where resource abundance fails to improve living conditions. He highlighted that the extractive sector’s development in isolated enclaves has limited its potential to drive broad-based development, contrary to the African Mining Vision.

Akper pointed out that weak laws and institutions have led to inadequate NRG frameworks and poor implementation, causing issues like resource-induced conflicts, benefit-sharing disputes, exclusion, and occupational health concerns.

The report indicates that ECOWAS Regional Instruments and National policies and laws do not sufficiently address issues like child labor, gender discrimination, and sexual gender-based violence in the extractive sector. It urges the ECOWAS Commission to take appropriate action to address these gaps.