PESMDAA pledges to assist states improve IGR
Chairman, Petroleum and Solid Minerals Development and Advocacy Association (PESMDAA), Robert Adah, has pledged to assist states improve their internally generated revenue. Adah also said that the association would ensure that the Federal Government benefits from resource extraction without further harming local communities. He spoke at the opening of the International Conference on Petroleum, Environment, […]
Chairman, Petroleum and Solid Minerals Development and Advocacy Association (PESMDAA), Robert Adah, has pledged to assist states improve their internally generated revenue.
Adah also said that the association would ensure that the Federal Government benefits from resource extraction without further harming local communities.
He spoke at the opening of the International Conference on Petroleum, Environment, Solid Minerals and Security (ICPESMS 2025) on Tuesday in Abuja organised by PESMDAA with the theme: “Sustainable Resource Development and Security Stability in the Extractive Sectors.”
Adah said that communities nationwide have been suffering the consequences of mismanaged extraction.
“From Sokoto to Lagos, Maiduguri to Port Harcourt, the cry is the same. For every blessing, there is a burden, and in our case, the burden has been degradation and economic mismanagement,” he said.
Permanent Secretary, Ecological Project Office (EPO), Dr Aishetu Ndayako reaffirmed the commitment of the organisation to erosion control, flood management, and environmental restoration.
Represented by the Director of Solid Erosion and Flood Control, Eluma Garba the permanent secretary said collaboration with civil society groups like PESMDAA was critical to ensuring sustainable utilisation of natural resources.
“Together, we can safeguard our environment and strengthen community resilience in line with global best practices and Nigeria’s development goals,” she said.
Also speaking, President Bola Tinubu urged companies in Nigeria’s extractive industry to adopt cleaner, more sustainable practices in line with global energy transition goals.
The president stressed the need for a low-carbon pathway, circular economy practices, and responsible community engagement.
The president said that extractive operations must evolve “from exploration to decommissioning” to reduce gas flaring, manage waste responsibly, and restore degraded lands.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Kambari said that communities affected by resource extraction deserved fair compensation, biodiversity protection, and a genuine commitment to remediation.
He said: “Only through such measures can we build resilience, trust, and long-term prosperity.”
The president also highlighted the role of shared responsibility, urging development partners, businesses, civil society, academia, the media, and citizens to work with the federal government in greening the sector.
“Together, we can transform Nigeria’s abundant resources into a platform for peace, stability, and inclusive growth,” he said.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume described the extractive sector as a potential driver of economic transformation.
Akume, represented by Nadungu Gagare, however, warned that this promise could only be fulfilled through inclusive governance, transparency, and strong collaboration among state institutions, the private sector, and civil society.
He said: “A stable and secure extractive sector is foundational to peacebuilding and national cohesion.”
Akume stressed the risks posed by unsustainable resource extraction, environmental degradation, and community discontent.