The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has officially launched the second generation of its national database, a strategic initiative aimed at transforming the management of Nigeria's mining and raw materials sectors. The platform is designed to assist authorities in issuing mining licenses and combating illegal mining activities across the country.
Enhanced Database for Policy and Investment
Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, Director-General of RMRDC, unveiled the upgraded platform during a media hub in Abuja. He described it as one of the most robust databases in Nigeria for guiding policy decisions, manufacturing growth, and investment planning. The new system represents a significant improvement over the first-generation Raw Materials Management Information System, which was developed through a nationwide survey documenting raw materials deposits, investment conditions, security situations, and other relevant data.
The earlier system had notable limitations, including weak alignment with the Harmonized System (HS) Code, a lack of dynamism, and an inability to integrate with external databases. The upgraded platform addresses these issues by incorporating real-time data feeds from testing systems deployed nationwide. These feeds will provide up-to-date information on raw materials quality, conditions, availability, and changing characteristics across different locations.
Supporting Local Processing and Combating Illicit Flows
Ike-Muonso emphasized that the database will be highly useful in addressing illicit financial flows. It supports the presidential directive that raw materials should not be exported unless at least 30% value has been added locally. By improving traceability, the platform makes it easier to identify the origin of materials, enforce local processing laws, and monitor activities by tax authorities. This, in turn, reduces incentives for illicit financial flows.
He further noted that the Ministry of Solid Minerals already has an executive order requiring some level of processing before mineral resources are exported. The database will complement these efforts by revealing the locations of mineral deposits and supporting the characterization of newly discovered minerals as more research is conducted.
Integration with Key Agencies
The database currently integrates information from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Geological Survey, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDA), the Nigeria Customs Service, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and approximately 16 internal RMRDC databases. This integration ensures comprehensive and reliable data on known mineral resources, confirmed deposits, agricultural produce, industrial waste, and recyclable materials.
Ike-Muonso disclosed that by next year, the Council expects to move into the third generation of the database, which will deliver more accurate valuations and deeper insights into Nigeria's natural resource wealth. He stressed that access to credible information is critical to attracting both local and foreign investors, adding that investment cannot happen without information and that investing blindly is one of the worst mistakes anyone can make.
Media Collaboration and Public Communication
In her remarks, Chinyete Nani-Anum, Director of Corporate Affairs at RMRDC, stated that the media hub was convened to strengthen collaboration between the Council and journalists in promoting awareness of its activities and national industrialization goals. Under the leadership of Prof. Ike-Muonso, the Council has introduced the Raw Materials 360 online newspaper and RMRDC online radio to expand public communication and stakeholder engagement.
She called on the media to continue supporting efforts aimed at promoting self-reliance, industrial growth, and economic diversification in Nigeria. She emphasized that the task of national development is a collective one, and that together, the RMRDC and the media can amplify the message of self-reliance, industrial growth, and economic diversification for the benefit of all Nigerians.
