Post: ‘Solid minerals major contributor to GDP’

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s decision to diversify from hydrocarbon to making the minerals sector a major contributor to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and also promote climate change.

Alake dropped this hint when he received a delegation of the Miners Association of Nigeria, led by their National President, Mr. Dele Ayanleke.

In a statement, the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, said the delegation comprised representatives of the Vuka Group, co-organiser of the forthcoming Nigeria Mining Week and PricewaterhouseCoopers, foremost accounting firm.

While commending the association for its recommendations and consistent role in organising the Mining Week, Alake stated that Nigeria has been operating a mono-cultural economy for long, noting that the shift to solid minerals was overdue. He said: ‘’Our vision is to make solid minerals our pride, a major contributor to Nigeria’s Goss Domestic Product. We will diversify from oil to exploit it (solid minerals) for survival of Nigeria. This is our own contribution to climate change.’’

To this end, the Minister emphasised  that  the Ministry was committed to making requisite policies that will sanitise and rejig the regulatory framework to make it more conducive for local and foreign investors to play’.

On the issue of incursion by the second tier of government into mining, Alake stressed that the Federal Government would engage the state and local governments to resolve surrounding issues within the ambit of the law.

Speaking on securing the mining sector environment for maximum yield to the Federal Government, the Minister said high end technology would be deployed coupled with inter-agency taskforce to arrest the menace.

He, therefore, sought partnership with the association to strengthen their capacity for the growth and repositioning of the sector.

Ayanleke expressed confidence that the seven-point agenda unfolded by the Minister under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration would consolidate and enhance the sector for maximum contribution to national development.

Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/solid-minerals-major-contributor-to-gdp/

 

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