There is high hope for the speedy and sustainable exploration and development of Nigeria’s geochemical mineral resources as the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) and the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), ABU Zaria, on Thursday, discussed the terms of partnership that will form the basis of the MoU that is soon to be signed by the two collaborating research institutions.
Stakeholders agree that the collaboration will not only catalyze the development of the country’s geochemical mineral resources, but will also attract a new wave of investments that will strengthen the Nigerian economy for economic diversification, noting that energy minerals (such as lithium and cobalt) have become very lucrative all over the world.
In his address at the meeting in Abuja, Director–General, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Prof Olusegun Omoniyi Ige explained that naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) are yet to be fully explored in the country, adding that the collaboration between NGSA and CERT will have NGSA explore for the energy minerals while CERT will work with the Agency for deep geosciences analysis and development of the highly lucrative energy minerals.
While saying that the initiative will gulp huge sums, he assured that the Federal Government is committed to the multifaceted development of the sector, and commended the Minister of Solid Minerals
Development, Dr. Dele Alake and is team for their commitment to ensuring that the NGSA maximizes the realization of its mandate of generating reliable geosciences data on mineral in Nigeria.
He said the collaboration will therefore set in motion, modalities for detailed scientific analysis of the energy minerals using the combined expertise of NGSA and CERT.
The Director-General stated: “The Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) have not been fully explored in Nigeria. The collaboration between NGSA and CERT will launch deep research into NORM.”
According to the Director–General, NGSA and CERT can work together to identify some of the NORM and see how to develop the resources, adding that the partnership will also enable the NGSA to advice the public on safety matters. He pointed out that it is hazardous to live in a house built with materials which have some Naturally Occurring Radioactive Minerals.
He said in addition to developing geochemical resources, the partnership will also develop soil geochemical mapping: “NGSA and CERT will work together, we will formalize the collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding,” he assured.
“NGSA will also send revenant personnel to CERT for training,” Prof Ige said, adding that the Agency is already in collaboration with some universities and specialized research institutions.
According to him, “the NGSA is statutorily responsible for the generation of geosciences information on minerals in Nigeria, it is also a research institution with four mineral testing laboratories situate in strategic locations of the country, with desirable staff strength of five hundred.”
Director, Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Prof. A. S. Jonah who commended the Management of the NGSA for foresight and commitment to the generation of reliable geosciences information, pledged the willingness of the Centre to deploy its scientific equipment (including a Nuclear Reactor) for deeper study of the natural resources of Nigeria.
He said the collaboration will also strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s geosciences data and attract more investors.
Prof S. A. Jonah invited the NGSA Director-General and his team to CERT: “On behalf of the Vice Chancellor of the ABU Zaria, I am inviting you and your Management Team to the Centre for Energy Research and Training, ABU, Zaria. We appeal to you to be our guests at the Centre. We want to show you our equipment and demonstrate to you how our Nuclear Reactor works, and how it can serve the NGSA,” adding that the Reactor has been deployed to served various African countries for the past 24 years.
Prof. Jonah acknowledged the technical expertise of NGSA and described the Agency as a “key technical institution,” adding that CERT will be delighted to join expertise and professionalism with NGSA for value-addition to the realization of the mandates of both NGSA and CERT.
In his presentation, Head of Training, CERT, Dr. Tukur Mohammed showcased the technical preparedness of CERT to work with the NGSA. He said the fifteen Research Professors at the Centre will work to add value to the realization of the mandate of the organizations, adding that its equipment will also be at the service of the Agency.
Tulur, who pointed out that Lithium is a major component of energy storage, said it is expensive and lucrative. “We can work with NGSA by deploying Nuclear Science and Technology to exploration and adaptability to energy minerals, and also radioactive materials.” According to the Head of Training, CERT can provide NGSA with information on nuclear materials, adding that it has various instruments for reliable analysis and environmental analysis.
Director, National Geosciences Information Centre (NGIC), NGSA, Mrs. Grace Okpala pointed out that the collaboration will add value to geosciences information on radioactive materials, a development she said will catalyze the development of the mineral sector.
Director, Economic Geology, NGSA, Mr. Okorie Isaac Mba who welcomed the team from CERT, stated: “I want to support what the NGSA Director-General has said about the need to develop an MoU that will articulate how NGSA and CERT will work together as federal institutions that share related mandates on geosciences matters such as the geochemical mapping. An area we wish to achieve 90 percent coverage of Nigeria on baseline geochemical research.
Okorie called for the formation of a national team and suggested that a pool of funds be dedicated to geochemical mapping of the country. “We are also interested in rare earth elements which are even more lucrative than many other mineral resources, not just metals,” he added.
“We are interested in deploying your nuclear reactor to deepen the results of some of our geoscience findings,” Okorie said, adding that while on a working visit to South Korea, the NGSA Team witnessed how the Korean Geological Survey separates its resources.
On his part, Director, Regional Geology, NGSA, Mr. Umar Bature hailed the collaboration, stating that it will strengthen data integrity of minerals in Nigeria.
Other NGSA Directors at the meeting are Director, Geoscience Planning and Information (GPI), Mr. Mustapha Mohammed; Director, Geophysics, Abba Usman; Director, Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, Dr. Edwin Ekpo among other Management Staff of the Agency.
