In order to achieve a sustainable management of the country’s vast mineral resources for its national development, the Federal Government had solicited for more partnership with State Governments.
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Aliyu Babangida in his office, recently.
The Minister said the purpose of his visit was to pay homage to the Governor as well as establish relationship that would be of benefits to the development of the country’s mining sector with the State Government.
Sada said the collaboration between the Federal and State Governments was necessary in order to get optimal benefits from the country’s minerals and metals sector.
Arc. Sada further said, “For us to be able to enjoy the benefits of these mineral resources, you must manage them well; the only way to do that is by over-sighting what is happening, there is no better over-sighting than the owner of the house. It is not the royalty or tax that is the wealth of mining but the equity we are able to acquire. We must find a way that various levels of Government are at work to develop the mining sector.”
He noted that Niger state was one of the States that have high mineralization in the country with deposits of eight mineral resources in commercial quantities in the State; he added that this development informed the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (NSME) to hold its 14th Annual Conference in the State.
The Minister called on Niger state to activate its Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) and make it functional so as to address environmental and communal issues associated with mining operations in the State.
Governor Aliyu Babangida in his response commended the Minister for his giant strides in the development of the nation’s minerals and metals sector
He said with the decline in the price of crude oil, Government at all levels should pay more attention to the growth and development of the God-endowed mineral resources that the country has in every Local Government Area.
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