In its continuous efforts to enhance economic growth and development in the mining sector, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has expressed its willingness to collaborate and partner with Bauchi State, a mineral endowed State.
In a statement by Deputy-Director (Information & PR), Alaba R. Balogun, the Minister for Solid Minerals Development Dr Oladele Alake made this known during the visit by Bauchi State Governor , Bala Mohammed to the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.
Dr Alake stated that the richness of Bauchi State in mineral endowment and the determination of its Executive Governor to develop the sector align with the agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to diversify the economy using the solid minerals sector as pivot to transform our economy, generate employment and increase revenue accruable to government coffers.
The minister emphasized that the overarching need for Nigeria to diversify the economy cannot be overstated in view of global shift from fossil fuel to green energy, stressing the present evolution in manufacturing of electric cars as an instance of increase in global demand for cleaner energy.
He said: ”So, if we do not take conscious steps, our country could be in dire straits. For our economic survival, we must diversify”.
Reeling out the achievements of the ministry under his watch since assumption of office, Dr Alake said deliberate policies and proactive measures had been taken by the Ministry in line with Presidential directive to sanitize the sector coupled with his advocacy visits to international fora on mining which included Perth, Australia; UNGA meeting and Saudi Arabia to woo foreign investors.
The Minister said, ”All our activities In the last few months, generated a lot of global attention, interest and support from foreign investors. We are making headway in the sector.”
Elaborating further, he stated that the Ministry is making concerted efforts as well to promote and encourage local investment in the sector by way of creating conducive environment, adding, sustaining a robust engagement between Federal and State governments that will reduce friction is paramount to this administration.
”State can now apply for mining licence and mine in their state, and pay necessary royalty and taxes to the Federal Government,” he said.
In his remarks, Bauchi State, Governor of Mallam Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed said Bauchi State will partner with the Federal Government in its bid to maximize benefits of minerals eg lithium, lead, tin, columbite, kaolin etc; that abound to enhance its economic prosperity.
While expressing his total support for the policies and proactive programmes of the Ministry to sanitize the mining sector, the Executive Governor emphatically stated that with the shift of attention to solid minerals cum green energy, Bauchi State will key into the policies of the Ministry of Solid Minerals, especially promoting value addition to mineral processing in its state in addition to creating special purpose vehicle to develop the sector.
