Nigeria is endowed with abundant solid mineral to revamp the nation’s economy, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development , Dr. Oladele Alake has said.
Dr. Alake made this declaration when a delegation of Nigeria-China Chamber of Mines led by its National President, Dr. Olugbenga Ajala paid him a courtesy visit in his Office at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja recently.
The Minister stated that the ministry has initiated several deliberate policies and programmes which are geared towards achieving set objectives for economic prosperity; as outlined in the roadmap that was recently released to the public.
Alake affirmed that the establishment of the Solid Minerals Corporation and promotion of public private ventures is crucial to these objectives; adding, it will ensure sustainability, increase revenue accruable to government, with a significant contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In a statement by the Head, Press & PR,Alaba R. Balogun ,the Minister acknowledged the importance of security of investors, which according to him, is crucial to achieving the Ministry’s vision of repositioning and sanitizing the minerals sector for maximum contribution to the nation’s socio-economic development.
To this end, he said the Ministry is committed to establishing a multi- agency task force that will put a stop to the activities of illegal miners and their collaborators.
The Minister restated that the Government has given illegal miners 30-days grace, stressing, it is not a punitive measure but a way to formalize and make them legitimate to continue in their trade. He also asserted that the aim is to streamline and structure the Small Scale Artisanal Miners for maximum yield to the Federal Government.
The National President, Nigeria -China Chamber of Mines, Dr. Olugbenga Ajala informed the Minister that their visit is to celebrate his appointment as Minister for Solid Minerals Development.
The Association, he stated, has proferred ideas and suggestions to the Ministry; that will advance and grow the sector for socio-economic development of the country. Some of which include improving data synergy between the Mining Cadastre Office and Nigeria Geological Survey Agency.
