The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake and ANRML Group Managing Director Alok Gupta, at the commissioning of an ultra-modern mineral analysis laboratory built by African Natural Resources and Mines Limited (ANRML) in Sabon-Wuse, Niger State on Thursday.
By Victoria Onehi
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has commissioned an ultra-modern mineral analysis laboratory built by African Natural Resources and Mines Limited (ANRML) in Sabon-Wuse, Niger State on Thursday.
Alake described the facility as a significant milestone in the federal government’s efforts to reposition the sector and commended African Natural Resources and Mines Limited (ANRML) for its contribution to local value addition in Nigeria’s mining sector.
The Minister said the President was supposed to come and commission the laboratory but sent him to represent him due to his busy schedule but he is working to get the President to come and commission the ANRML Gujeni plant.
The Minister said: “This laboratory, the first of its kind in Nigeria, aligns with our ministry’s 7-point agenda and the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda by promoting local value addition, which is critical to the sector’s transformation.”
Alake highlighted the importance of the internationally certified lab, noting that it eliminates the need for sending mineral samples abroad for testing, thereby positioning Nigeria as a global player in mineral analysis.
He urged ANRML to sustain its investment efforts, pledging federal government support for initiatives that create jobs and drive economic growth. “This lab is a testament to the possibilities in our mining sector when public-private partnerships thrive,” he added.
The former Director General of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Dr John Akanya, said standardisation should be encouraged both in manpower and in standard of equipments.
“As Director General of SON, quality was top of my agenda. We had created a quality policy then and it is with the federal government now and I plead with the government not to ignore the policy and encourage to keep it in every sector of government.The government should provide an enabling environment for industry to thrive and it saddens me when companies move out of Nigeria.” Akanya said.
Speaking at the event, ANRML’s Group Managing Director, Alok Gupta, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to revolutionising Nigeria’s mining sector.
“The world-class laboratory we commissioned today is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including WDXRF machines, and has earned the prestigious ISO 7025 certification from the Canadian Association of Laboratory Abbreviations.” Gupta revealed.
He emphasised the lab’s capacity to provide geochemical services for exploration and mining industries, positioning it as a game-changer for the sector.
Gupta pleaded that government should continue to encourage companies them to invest more in the country.”Companies like us should be encouraged with incentives to stay back and invest more to reduce unemployment and banditary in the country.”
