FG, BAUCHI PARTNER TO ENHANCE MINING SECTOR FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH 28-01-24
By Sadiq Aminu In its continuous efforts to enhance economic growth and development in the mining sector, the Federal Government has expressed its willingness to collaborate with Bauchi State.
The Minister for Solid Minerals Development Dr Oladele Alake made this known during the visit by the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed to his office in Abuja.
Dr Alake said there was no doubt that Bauchi State is endowed with mineral resources and so its determination to develop the sector aligns with the agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to diversify and transform
the economy through the solid Minerals Sector .
The Minister emphasized that the overarching need for Nigeria to diversify the economy cannot be overstated in view of global shift from fossil fuel to green energy, stressing the present evolution in manufacturing of electric cars as an instance of increase in global demand for cleaner energy.
He said: ” So, if we do not take conscious steps, our country could be in dire straits. For our economic survival, we must diversify”.
Dr Alake told his guest that deliberate policies and proactive measures had been taken by the Ministry in line with Presidential directive to sanitize the sector coupled with his advocacy visits to international fora on mining as part of efforts to transform the economy, generate employment and increase revenue accruable to government coffers as most if the efforts had generated alot of attention from global investors .
Elaborating further, he stated that the Ministry was making concerted efforts as well to promote and encourage local investment in the sector by way of creating conducive environment, as robust engagement between Federal and State governments had been encouraged.
He said: ” State can now apply for mining licence and mine in their state, and pay necessary royalty and taxes to the Federal Government”.
In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed said Bauchi State was ready to partner with the Federal Government in its bid to maximize benefits of minerals eg lithium, lead, tin ,columbite, kaolin etc; that abound to enhance it’s economic prosperity.
While expressing his total support for the policies and programmes of the Ministry to sanitize the mining sector, the governor said the State will key into the existing policies of the Ministry especially in promoting value addition to mineral processing and creating special purpose vehicle to develop the sector.