MMSD Pushes For Re-establishment Of NIMEP To Boost Mining

Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, MMSD, says there is need for more projects like the National Integrated Mineral Exploration Project (NIMEP) to be re- introduced to boost the mining sector.

The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mary Ogbeh stated this during her first working visit to the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency Headquarters, NGSA, one of the Agencies under the ministry in Abuja.

She explained that the agency needs more attention as it is the engine room that manufactures the data that is attracting foreign investors to the sector.

Dr. Ogbeh urged the NGSA to sustain the achievements recorded so far for the betterment of the sector and the economy of the nation.

“I want to further appreciate the Director General of the NGSA for his commitment and also appeal to him to sustain the achievements for the betterment of the sector and the economy of the nation” she added.

” I am quite impressed with what I have seen. I am just discussing with the DG that I hope that the achievements they have recorded so far would be sustained”.

Dr. Ogbeh who expressed satisfaction after touring facilities at the Agency stressed that the NGSA should not be toiled with because of its technicalities in Geophysic data generation.

“I think NGSA is not an agency to be toiled with. It is so technical.What I have seen gives a lot of hope that we are on the right track and the NIMEP project that was done, I think there is need for more of this kind of projects, so that our data can be built upon more to open doors for investment in this sector” she said.

Earlier in his address, the Director General of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, NGSA, Dr. Addulrazaq Garba, said the revenue increment that some agencies have recorded recently is based on efficiency of the geoscience data generated by the Agency.

Dr. Garba who further appealed for more funding to enable the Agency meet some of its goals pledged to continue to render selfless services to the country.

Georgina Humphrey, Edited By Grace Namiji