Politics
SEN. Tanko Al-makura, Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Mines, Steel Development and Metallurgy has said that the development of mining resources in the country must be government-driven.
He stated this during the budget defence of the Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals Development in Abuja on Tuesday.
Al-makura said that the development of the resources by government was for the fact that very lucrative resources were guarded by every government all over the globe.
“Government must take the bull by the horn to either create mining zones or take the template of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
“The NNPC is daily embarking on exploration. Our budget should be tailored in such a way as to create desks that will make government drive the process of exploration and exploitation with partners in way where it is specialised.
“I will like to see part of the capital budget for for this year to have some kind of attention into ways and means of providing infrastructure in this sector.
” This is so that it can provide a platform for private miners to launch on for the country to programme and generate the revenue we so much desire,” he said.
The chairman further said that Nigeria’s potential for petroleum or oil had a timeline to be exhausted.
“And any sensible administration will have to look inwards in finding ways of sustaining the country.
“From the data and facts on ground, there is no doubt that the mining industry will come handy even when we are over relying on petroleum resources,” he said.
In his submission, Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals Development Mr Olamilekan Adegbite said that the ministry facilitated industrial mineral development as part of its achievement in 2019.
He explained that the effort was to promote self sufficiency in production of materials such as limestone and dimension stone.
Adegbite said that the ministry has resolved to increase its revenue in 2020 and would ensure that mining sites were secured.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) The ministry is proposing a budget of N18.3 billion. (NAN)
– Oct. 30, 2019 @ 8:59 GMT |
Tags: Development of mining resources must be government-driven – Al-makura
