RMRDC unveils platform to tackle illegal mining, attract investments

The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), on Tuesday, launched a new digital platform to map mineral locations, attract investment, and crack down on illegal mining.

Speaking in Abuja at the unveiling, the Director-General of RMRDC Nnanyelugo Ike-Mounso, said the Nigerian Statistical Information System for Products and Raw Materials will give investors and regulators real-time data on resource deposits, ending what he called “blind investment”, in the sector.

The platform, he said, will disclose locations of minerals so investors and regulators know exactly where resources are. 

“It also strengthens the capacity of authorities to monitor and check illegal mining activities. Unreliable data had long kept investors away. The platform is designed to provide credible information for investment decisions, improve foreign direct investment, and boost investor confidence,” he said. 

He said the initiative aims to curb illicit financial flows, citing a proposed policy requiring at least 30 percent local value addition before raw materials are exported. The move aligns with existing Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals rules mandating local processing, he added.

The new system replaces RMRDC’s first platform, the Raw Material Management Information System, which Ike-Mounso said had limitations despite being based on a nationwide survey. The upgraded version integrates multiple databases to deliver more robust data for policymakers and investors.

During her remarks, the Director of Corporate Affairs RMRDC Chinyete Nnamsi-Anum, said the council has undergone strategic repositioning and reforms under current leadership to drive industrial development through local raw materials.