FIMG Akampkpa Bill Policy Summary

What Is This Bill?

The Federal Institute of Mining and Geoscience, Akampkpa (Establishment) Bill, 2025 is a legislative proposal to create a federally funded institute of technical and professional training dedicated to mineral exploration, extraction, and geoscience research, to be sited in Akampkpa, Cross River State. The bill is one of a series of sister bills sponsored by Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi as part of a broader legislative campaign to decentralise mining and geoscience capacity-building across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, ensuring that southern Nigeria — particularly the South-South zone — has dedicated institutional infrastructure to support the Federal Government’s drive to diversify the national economy through solid minerals development.

Who Does It Target?

Students and professionals seeking technical and postgraduate training in mining, geosciences, and related disciplines in the South-South geopolitical zone Artisanal and small-scale miners in Cross River State and neighbouring states requiring skills upgrading and certification Public and private sector operators in the mining and solid minerals value chain needing laboratory and analytical services Academic institutions, researchers, and industry bodies partnering on mining education and innovation Host communities in Cross River State and the Niger Delta region that stand to benefit from formalised mining expertise and employment

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Establish a specialised federal institute in Akampkpa, Cross River State, mandated to deliver instruction, training, and research in the exploration and exploitation of minerals for national development Decentralise mining and geoscience education so that South-South Nigeria has a dedicated training hub comparable to the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences (NIMG) in Jos Build the technical and human capital required to sustainably harness Nigeria’s vast solid mineral endowment as part of the country’s economic diversification agenda Provide laboratory services for mineral identification, beneficiation, and metallurgical analysis to both public and private sector clients Support the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining through professional certification and skills development programmes

Key Features

Establishment of Institute: Creates a new federal institution in Akampkpa with a statutory mandate for mineral education, training, research, and laboratory services Academic Programmes: The institute will offer postgraduate diplomas, short courses, and certificate programmes in mining, geosciences, gemmology, mine engineering, mineral economics, and mining law — including subjects not routinely taught at conventional universities Laboratory and Analytical Services: Institute mandated to provide rock and mineral identification, sampling, mineral beneficiation, and metallurgical analysis services to public and private sector clients Research Mandate: Dedicated capacity for applied research in exploration, extraction, and processing technologies relevant to Nigeria’s solid minerals sector Part of a National Network: Complements similar bills for institutes in Takum (Taraba), Gusau (Zamfara), Ikoro (Ekiti), and Garaku (Nasarawa), forming a nationwide network of geoscience training centres Federal Oversight: Institute to be placed under the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, consistent with the governance model of the existing NIMG Jos Current Status & Legislative Context Legislative Stage: First Reading completed — June 24–26, 2025. The bill is scheduled for Second Reading, public hearings, and committee review in the House of Representatives Sister Bills: Bills for similar institutes in Takum (HB.2361), Gusau (HB.2362), and Ikoro (HB.2364) are advancing concurrently; the Federal University of Mining and Geosciences, Jos has already passed both chambers and awaits Presidential Assent Committee Stage: The House Committee on Solid Minerals, chaired by Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, has held a public hearing on the cluster of mining bills, inviting stakeholders, industry bodies, academia, and community groups Policy Alignment: The bill aligns with the Federal Government’s Nigeria Solid Minerals Strategy and the Economic Diversification Agenda aimed at reducing oil dependency and monetising Nigeria’s estimated 44 solid mineral types Cross River Context: Akampkpa LGA, Cross River State, is situated in a mineral-rich area; the institute would serve the South-South zone which has historically lacked dedicated mining training infrastructure How to Access / Engage Prospective Students: Upon establishment, apply through the institute’s admissions process for Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) or short courses in mining and geosciences Industry & Private Sector: Engage the institute for laboratory and analytical services, mineral identification, and collaborative research partnerships Artisanal Miners: Engage the institute for skills certification, practical training, and licensing support through the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development Track the Bill: Monitor legislative progress at billtracker.naltf.gov.ng or through the House of Representatives Order Papers Contact: House Committee on Solid Minerals, House of Representatives, National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja | Ministry of Mines and Steel Development: minesandsteel.gov.ng

Important Terms

Geoscience: The scientific study of the Earth’s physical structure, composition, and mineral resources — the core discipline underpinning Nigeria’s solid minerals sector Postgraduate Diploma (PGD): The primary degree awarded by NIMG Jos and envisaged for the new institutes — a professionally-oriented programme for working professionals and recent graduates in mining-related fields Solid Minerals Sector: Nigeria’s non-oil mining and minerals sector, comprising gold, iron ore, coal, limestone, bitumen, lithium, and 40+ other commercially exploitable minerals Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): Informal mining activities by individual miners or small groups, a major focus of formalisation efforts under the Federal Government’s mining sector reforms

Impact & Metrics

Nigeria holds one of Africa’s most diverse solid mineral endowments across 44 known mineral types, yet the sector contributes less than 1% of GDP — partly due to a severe shortage of trained manpower The existing NIMG Jos is the only federal institute of its kind, creating a major geographic gap for southern Nigeria; this bill addresses that deficit for the South-South zone The House Committee on Solid Minerals has identified capacity development, decentralised research, and formalisation of artisanal mining as the three pillars underpinning the cluster of establishment bills Cross River State, host of the proposed Akampkpa institute, has documented mineral deposits including limestone, barite, coal, and lead-zinc — resources that could catalyse local economic development if matched with technical expertise

Official Resources

Bill Tracker: billtracker.naltf.gov.ng | NALTF: naltf.gov.ng | Ministry of Mines and Steel Development: minesandsteel.gov.ng | NIMG Jos (model institution): nimg.edu.ng Bill Reference: HB. 2363, 10th House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria Contact: House Committee on Solid Minerals, National Assembly, Abuja

Legal Framework

The Federal Institute of Mining and Geoscience, Akampkpa (Establishment) Bill, when enacted, would operate under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, the National Board for Technical Education Act, and the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development mandate. It aligns with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act 2011, Nigeria's Strategic Growth Plan for Solid Minerals, and the ECOWAS Mining Policy on technical capacity development in the regional mining sector.