‘Solid minerals to surpass oil and gas as revenue earner’

[Mirror]

Information minister, Mr. Labaran Maku has said that going by the development in the solid minerals sector, the sector will in the nearest future, fetch Nigeria more revenue than the oil and gas sector.

Maku gave the hint yesterday in his remark shortly after the presentation of the mid-term report for the minerals and metals sector by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Mohammed Sada at the ongoing ministerial platform in Abuja.

This is even as Sada said recent efforts have resulted in production of about 60.54 million tonnes of mineral products including 58.41 million tonnes of industrial minerals, 0.84 million tonnes of metallic mineral among others, which have translated in increased revenue generation and increased contribution to the Federation Account.

Sada disclosed that his ministry has discovered ten additional minerals bringing the total minerals in the country to 44 and also facilitated the creation of 1,254,200 rural based jobs.

The new jobs, the minister said arises from operations in 1710 quarries, 223 small scale mining operations, 195 mining leases, 845 ASM Cooperatives and 2048 exploration licenses.

He also added the development of the pilot programme of the one local government one mineral commodity programme targeted at creating at least 150,000 direct jobs and many other indirect jobs had been completed.

Sada stated that government has established of 1154 new quarries bringing the total quarries to 1,710 and 127 small scale mines in several locations around the country which apart from creating more jobs has resulted in increased revenue for the nation.

He said high grade iron ore assaying 50% Fe has been discovered in Gidan Jaja, Zamfara state, Lamba in Bauchi state, Gidan Buzu in Yobe, Jaruwa in Kaduna state, Tama in Katsina state, and in Ebiya and Agbado Okudu both in Kogi state.

According to Sada, enforcing the 'Use it or lose it' principle of Title Administration had allowed for activation of over 10,000 dormant minerals rights making active and productive even as 3007 active mineral titles have been granted within the period under review.

Also, the minister said a new coal mines has been developed bring to two the number of large coal mines operating in the country, the Maiganga Coal Mine operated by Ashaka Cement and the new Eta-Zuma Coal mine.

On steel development, Sada stated that apart from the ongoing reorientation of Ajaokuta Steel Company towards operationalisation with zero government funding, the ministry has also facilitated the production of 2.45 million tonnes of steel products by private steel operators.

National Mirror