KAM Industries Limited, Thor Explorations and Titan Minerals Limited (formerly AGVision Mining) have beaten over 7000 licensed companies to emerge as the most impactful private sector organizations operating in the Nigerian solid minerals space, while the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI) and the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) beat seven other public sector players to emerge most impactful government establishments in the industry.
The rating, which was conducted by the Special Projects Committee of THE TRUTH, also recognised a non-governmental organization – the Women In Mining Nigeria (WIMIN) for sustained advocacy for gender rights in mining, as well as its sustained WIMIN monthly series through which it has shared knowledge and strengthened women to become mining entrepreneurs across the country.
The list of ten entities which was released by TRUTHAFRIQUE Communications, publishers of THE TRUTH Online, also include Piramel Ventures for developing a standard lapidary laboratory in the country to polish precious stones before they are exported as a private sector-led strategy to combat capital flight, create jobs and facilitate economic diversification.
THE TRUTH also rated high, the Dangote Group and two joint individuals, namely, Geologist Saidu Uba Malami who is Chairman of the Board of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) and Dr Sanusi Mohammed, Executive Secretary General of the African Iron and Steel Association (AISA).
Chair of the Special Projects Committee of THE TRUTH, Engr Ben Nwude, a former president of the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (NSME) discussed the entities that made the list and the achievements that qualified them.
In the category of steel sector development and creation of wealth and jobs along the steel sector value chain, KAM Industries under the Chairmanship of Dr. Kamoru Yusuf won THE TRUTH’s recognition, and is enlisted in the “Top Ten Most Impactful Mining Sector Entities in Nigeria.”
KAM Industries, a successful private sector-led initiative has been able to sustain production of top-quality steel products namely nails, binding wire, wire mesh, roofing sheets and stone coating roofing tiles.
Despite Covid-19 challenges, KAM Industries sustained the jobs it created, and made its positive impact on the economy with presence of its steel products in every state of the federation.
While making reference to the ability of the private sector to make huge advancements in job and wealth creation through the steel sector, THE TRUTH called on the federal government to take a clue from the success of KAM Industries and revitalize Ajaokuta Steel Company and the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO).
‘It is the corporate opinion of THE TRUTH that although various efforts were made, yet, successive Federal Government administrations have not been able to satisfactorily address the challenges of the Nigerian steel sector, especially the quest for resuscitation of public sector industrial establishments, notably ASCO and NIOMCO,’ the organisation stated.
‘In the category of public sector mineral exploration, the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) under the Director-General, Dr Garba Abdulrazaq earned the recognition for commitment to global best practices and for working against all odds to generate reliable Geo-sciences Information needed by prospective investors to make informed investment decision in mining.’
According to the Committee, Geo-sciences Information provided by the NGSA has given the needed support to critical projects of government in the sector that are designed to facilitate economic diversification. The committee explained that one of such supportive efforts of the NGSA is the bitumen exploration project by which the Agency provided the reliable geo-sciences information needed to actualize the economic diversification potential of the Federal Government’s auctioning of bitumen belts across the country.
‘To this end, the NGSA showcased the attractiveness of the sector and triggered healthy competition among global investors for investment in Nigeria’s bitumen deposits,’ it said.
Apart from ensuring that mineral exploration companies operate in line with global best practices, the Dr. Garba Abdulrazaq-led management of the NGSA also provided reliable reserve estimates of some mineral types, thereby laying one of the most important foundation needed to earn global regard for Nigeria’s exploration reports.
The Committee further commended the NGSA for boosting professionalism of staff while ensuring conformity to international standards of mineral reporting, adding that while some government bodies complain of paucity of funds, the NGSA was able to think out of the box by engaging highly experienced professionals to share knowledge on critical matters of global importance ranging from JORC compliance to operating drilling rigs, as well as the ability of the agency to successfully supervise the National Integrated Mineral Exploration Project (NIMEP).
‘It is heart-warming that the NGSA continues to pursue JORC – compliant mineral exploration, a development that is already wining global acceptance for the country’s exploration reports, especially the preliminary report of the National Integrated Mineral Exploration Project, (NIMEP).’
It is pertinent to observe that JORC-compliant exploration reports have the credibility needed to win the confidence of prospective mining investors, and facilitate economic diversification.
In private sector exploration category, Titan Minerals Limited is being honored for its unmatched credentials as the only exploration company in Nigeria that currently offers JORC-compliant reporting, along international caliber geological, geophysical, geochemical and exploratory drilling services, as well the penchant of the company for adherence to international reporting standards.
With more than 500 vehicles, heavy duty plants and mineral exploration drill rigs both Coring and RC, Titan Minerals leverages its established operating expertise in Nigeria with substantial logistical capacity to operate in remote areas, and is deeply rooted in quarry mining and design, hard rock exploration, open pit mining, dewatering and water treatment, drilling, research and analysis and management and logistics in Nigeria.
He commended the Fadi Abou Ghazale-led Management of Titan Minerals for steering the company to enviable status, stating that it has become a leading Mineral Exploration Company with extensive experience in the fields of Geology, Geophysics, and Geoscience.
The company leads in exploratory drilling, offering unmatched drilling capabilities with five rigs currently in action across the federation.
Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) under the Director General, Engr Simon Nkom was recognised for the digitization of Nigeria’s mining cadastre system which makes it easy to apply and obtain mining licenses and permits from anywhere in the world. The development enhances the ease of doing mining business in Nigeria.
The Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI) under the Executive Secretary, Hajiya Fatimah Shinkafi is being honored for the ability to engage illegal miners and ensure participatory approach that has led to the production of the first-ever Nigerian gold bar, a milestone that showcases the ability of the sector to contribute to the Nigerian gold economy that is underway.
Thor Explorations Ltd is being honored for its outstanding contribution to economic diversification through its flagship project – the Segilola Gold Project, Osun State.
The project has huge impact on Nigeria’s economic diversification quest. Apart from creating jobs, it will contribute to the establishment of a gold economy for Nigeria, while also significantly impacting the global gold economy.
According to the Committee, Segilola Gold Project has become a major source of pride for Nigeria, adding that the successful exploration and development of gold resources through the private sector led initiative has dignified the Nigerian mining sector, and shown that through courage, resilience and visionary leadership, the country’s solid mineral resources can be harnessed to combat poverty at local and global levels.
The Committee quoted the President and CEO of Thor Explorations Ltd, Mr Segun Lawson as saying that the Canadian mineral exploration company ‘engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties located in Nigeria, Senegal and Burkina Faso.’
Thor holds a 100% interest in the Segilola Gold Project located in Osun State of Nigeria,’ he said, adding that mining and production commenced at Segilola in 2021. He further noted that Thor holds a 70% interest in the Douta Gold Project located in south-eastern Senegal and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “THX”.
In the category of gemstones faceting and development, THE TRUTH recognizes the efforts of Piramen/Emotan Global Ventures Limited to combat revenue losses that arises from export of unprocessed solid minerals.
The company set out to end export of unprocessed gemstones by establishing a precious stones processing in Nigeria where locally sourced gemstones are polished, carved and tumbled to add value to them before export.
Apart from creating jobs, the organization is a private sector-led response to the quest for a globally accepted homegrown strategy needed to address the worrisome trend in revenue losses, especially that the country is estimated to have lost seventeen billion Naira to illegal mineral export in 2021.
THE TRUTH recognizes Women In Mining Nigeria (WIMIN), a non governmental organization for triggering women participation in mining business through the successful execution of challenging and painstaking action-plans across the country.
More than any other non governmental organization in the country, WIMIN, under the leadership of Engr Janet Adeyemi exerted enormous energy in its advocacy for women inclusion in government’s mining policies, as well as championed the advocacy to empower women with knowledge and resources needed for trades in mining.
The organization also honored Dangote Group for creating jobs through development of Nigeria’s limestone resource and value-chain.
On a jointly scored goal, the Committee also recognizes Nigeria’s future-thinking geologist, Mr. Uba Saidu Malami and Dr. Sanusi Mohammed.
Mr. Uba Saidu Malami is honored for his relentless advocacy for the development of Africa’s rare earth metals. Malami, who is the Chairman of the Board of the Solid Minerals Development Fund encouraged the Federal Government to set up a strategic economic team to investigate the country for rare earth metals resources toward strengthening the political and economic relevance of the country now and in the near future, stating that the political and economic significance of rare metals cannot be over-emphasised.
The Harvard scholar, who emphasizes the strategic importance of rare earth metals in the production of modern scientific devices, says the mineral type will be very strategic for global trade and industry in the near future.
He expresses firm faith that exploring the country for rare earth metals would place Nigeria in a position of economic and political advantage, stating that the mineral resource has become very important in the production of modern communication gadgets like computers, cell phones, power and electrical devices.
Malami discusses the need for governments of African nations to unite and exercise new foresight by exploring the opportunities that abound in exploitation of rare earth metals.
The highly respected geologist notes that the dynamics of modern time requires a tilt toward renewable energy solutions, adding that the component parts of natural resources that are instrumental for the development of renewable energy solutions must be exploited for economic development.
The Committee further commended Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, Executive Secretary-General of the African Iron and Steel Association (AISA) for his contribution to the development of the African minerals sector, and his relentless advocacy for the industrialization of Nigeria through giving direction to policy makers on Ajaokuta Steel Company (ASCO) and the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO), Itakpe, Kogi State.
Dr. Mohammed, who is popularly regarded as the most vocal man in the advocacy for the industrialization of Nigeria was General Manager and Chief Executive of Jos Steel Rolling Company. He acquired profound cognate Scientific and Engineering experience which was why the Federal Government of Nigeria nominated him to the post of Executive Secretary-General of the African Iron and Steel Association (AISA).
