Alake Assures Foreign Investors Of Benefits In Mining Sector

Minister of Mines and Solid Development, Dele Alake has assured both foreign and local investors of more benefits from the mining sector.

Alake stated this at the end of the 21st Africa Down Under Conference in Perth, Australia.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Deputy Director of Information, Alaba Balogun, in Abuja.

The statement stresses that the country’s readiness is shown in its massive investment in geoscience investigation.

“The major plan to show the government’s readiness to assist investors is the massive investment into the geoscientific investigation of the country’s minerals, their grade, and quantum to enable investors to project with greater certainty the costs of their investments and the profits they can make”.

It explains that following the prospects of the extensive occurrence of lithium in Nigeria, battery minerals are making waves in automobile industries.

According to the statement, the progress made by some investors in mining lithium in the North and the South West confirms reports of Nigeria as the most profitable destination for the precious mineral.

The statement therefore assures investors of safety, reiterating that the government has given illegal miners thirty days to join co-operatives in addition to plans to deploy a surveillance task force and mine police to combat criminals at the mining sites.

“Nigeria is open for business and with our ongoing reforms in the solid minerals sector I can assure every investor that comes to our country of the conducive operating environment and good returns on their investments”.

According to the statement, while backing Alake’s claim in their presentations some investors, Dr. Stevens Davies and Hugh Morgan explain that lithium deposits in several parts of Nigeria occur close to the surface requiring mainly quarrying for excavation.

“Our company is working on a nickel project that has shown good prospects in Nigeria”.

It says another mining investor, Mr. David Gardner, affirms that the roadmap has re-ignited his interest to invest in Nigeria.

Georgina Humphrey, Edited By Grace Namiji