The Chairman of Kogi State Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee, ๐๐ฎ๐ท๐ถ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ถ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป has lauded the Federal Government through the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development on the founding and development of a Gold Processing Centre, during a 2-day working visitย by the Minister for Mines and Steel Development, ๐๐ฟ๐ฐ ๐ข๐น๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ด๐ฏ๐ถ๐๐ฒ.
Also in attendance were ๐๐ฟ. ๐ข๐น๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐น๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry, as well as representatives of the State Ministry of Solid Minerals.
Hajiya Suleiman commended the initiative, saying that it is “forward-thinking” approach that will develop the mining sector, preparing for economic diversification.ย ย “Not only will the centre cater for the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners within Mopamuro and its environs, it will also spark economic growth in the immediate environment,” she said.
Arc. Adegbite who was satisfied with the progress and quality of the work so far, said that the processing centre promises to be at par with what is obtainable anywhere. He urged other states and investors to borrow a leaf from this government initiative and replicate processing centres everywhere. “We are no longer going to make the mistake we made with crude oil, where we export raw crude only to import refined products. Our raw gold will be processed and refined here and can then be exported anywhere in the world,” he stated.
Speaking further, The Minister in response to the Chairman’s comment on paucity of funds for Artisanal miners, clarified that there are two categories of funds: one which requires collateral and the other which does not. He stated that loans of up to ten million and two million naira respectively can be accessed, with interest rates for both categories set at 15% and payable over a period of 15 years.
