The federal government has disclosed that there exist about 34 different solid minerals in Nigeria for investment. The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Musa Sada, said that the 34 different solid minerals are in commercial quantity in different parts of the country.
Sada, said this in a message he sent to a workshop on Economic Diversification and Enhancement of Revenue Generation, taking place in Gombe. The workshop was organised by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) for the North-East sub-region. Represented by the Chief Accountant in the ministry, Mrs Edith Ezeokoli, the minister said diversification of the economy was a major component of the federal government’s transformation agenda.
He said a lot of the minerals had been found in the North-Eastern part of the country, which according to him, when harnessed, can benefit the host communities.
The North-East geo-political zone in particular, is endowed with a variety of mineral resources comprising clay, coal (lignite), kaolin, marble, limestone, barite, bentonite,and lead/zinc ores, among others. Exploitation of some of these minerals has made this part of the nation, especially Potiskum and Fika, hubs for gypsum trading activities.
The discovery of very high grade iron ore in Nangere Local Government Area of Yobe State and Trona in both Borno and Yobe states, have joined to make these states, and indeed the North-East Zone, a centre for sourcing trona for domestic and industrial use,” he said. The minister called on mining operators to add value to their products before selling them to enhance their economic value. He also called on researchers to conduct researches on how to add value to Nigeria’s mineral resources before exporting same.
The minister urged state governments to provide logistic support to local mining companies to increase their productivity and jobs creation potentials.
