COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE 14^TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)/CONFERENCE OF THE NIGERIAN SOCIETY OF MINING ENGINEERS (NSME) HELD IN ABDULSALAM YOUTH CENTRE, OPPOSITE STATE SECRETARIAT MINNA-PAIKO ROAD, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA, 27^TH– 31^ST OCTOBER, 2014.

The 14^TH AGM/Conference of the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (NSME) held in Abdulsalam Youth Centre, Opposite State Secretariat Minna-Paiko road, Niger State between 28^th and 30th October, 2014. The Theme of the Conference “Enhancing Mining Investments for Industrial Revolution of Nigeria” is in line with Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda as it concerns Industrial Revolution of the country. After exhaustive deliberations, the Conference came out with the following resolutions:

1. The Federal Government is highly commended for its relentless effort in re-positioning Nigeria as a mining destination.
2. The Governments, both Federal and State should intensify their efforts in providing adequate mining-related infrastructure such as roads, railways, seaports, etc. so that the economic viability and value of mining projects are not impaired by capital expenditures.
3. The Government should intensify its efforts in encouraging the private sector participation in providing adequate and low-cost electric energy to make mining in Nigeria competitive.
4. The Conference commended the Federal Government for constituting and inaugurating the Board of the Solid Minerals Development Fund and urged the Government to ensure that statutory allocations to the Fund are made to enable it carry out its statutory functions as enshrined in the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007. In this way, the mining sector will be stimulated to serve as a spring-board for the Industrial Revolution of the country.
5. Capacity building in the mineral industry should be intensified for effective mine operations, management and policy implementation. In this regard, the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences should be strengthened by Enabling Law and properly funded to provide the critical manpower needed in the minerals sector of the national economy.
6. The accreditation of mining institutions’ programmes by various regulatory bodies in Nigeria should be harmonized to cut costs and minimize conflicts.
7. The Conference advocates synergy between the mining industry and mining educational institutions to provide opportunities for skills acquisition for staff and students.

For and behalf of Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers

Engr. B. O. Nwude, FNSME, FNSE, FNMGS, FAutoEI

           NSME, President

30^th October, 2014