Abundant Minerals Will Be Used To Revamp Economy – Alake

By Georgina Humphrey

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake says the abundant mineral resources in the country will be use to revamp the economy.

Dr. Alake stated this when the Association of Licensed Small Scale Miners led by its President, Dr. Olugbenga Ajala paid him a visit in Abuja.

The minister who affirmed that the present administration is shifting attention from hydro-carbon stressed that the ministry has initiated several deliberate policies and programmes geared towards achieving set objectives for economic prosperity as outlined in the roadmap that was recently released to the public.

He emphasized that establishment of the Solid Minerals Corporation and promotion of public private ventures is crucial to these objectives adding it will ensure sustainability, increase revenue accruable to government, with a significant contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Dr. Alake who acknowledged the importance of security of investors noted that it is crucial for the Ministry to achieve its vision by repositioning and sanitizing the mineral sector for maximum contribution to the nation’s socio-economic development under the present administration’s renewed hope agenda.

“To this end the Ministry is committed to establishing a multi- agency task force that will put a stop to the activities of illegal miners and their collaborators” Dr. Alake stated.

‘’The government will come down firmly on these unscrupulous foreign operators sponsoring banditry to perpetrate illegal mining, let me use this medium to appeal through you to tell those sponsors to desist or face the full wrath ofthe law’’, the Minister stated.

The Minister therefore reiterated that the Government has given illegal miners 30-days grace, stressing, it is not a punitive measure but a way to formalize and make them legitimate to continue in their trade.

He also explained that the aim was to streamline and structure Small Scale Artisanal Miners for maximum yield to the Federal Government.

Earlier, the President, Association of Licensed Small Scale Miners, Dr. Olugbenga Ajala who congratulated the Minister on his appointment as Minister for Solid Minerals Development promised to partner the Ministry by proferring ideas that will advance the sector for socio-economic development of the country.

“Some of the ideas will include improving data synergy between the Mining Cadastre Office and Nigeria Geological Survey Agency” Dr. Ajala emphasized”.

Edited By Grace Namiji