Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite has hailed the initiative and support of President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB)’s towards developing the nation’s mining sector.
The Minister expressed this when he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Trade and Investment of the Russian Federation during the Russia- Africa summit held recently in that country with President Buhari as the head of the Nigerian delegation.
A statement issued by the S. A. on Media to the Minister, Ayodeji Adeyemi at the weekend noted that the MoU which the Minister signed on behalf of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency for the ministry, is for scientific and technical cooperation in the field of Geosciences between both countries.
Expressing delight over the sealed deal which also has the African Export-Import Bank as a party to it, the Minister said “President Buhari has given us so much support in the mining sector and it is now bearing fruits.’’
The areas of cooperation as captured in the agreement include exchanges of scientific and technical information; exchange of study visits and scientists; collaboration on research activities; joint organisation of symposia, conferences workshops and training programmes; Geological maps compilation and regional mineralisation correlation; methodology and technology on geochemical mapping and remote sensing; Aero-geophysical mapping; Marine geology; Research and monitoring of Geo-hazards amongst others
On his part, NGSA DG, Dr Abdulrazaq Garba commended Adegbite for his role as the masterminder of the agreement.
“The signing of the MOU is another dimension to the success that the ministry is achieving in international collaborations,’’ he said.
Present at the signing was Sergey Gorkov CEO and chairman of Russian State Geological Holding, ROSGEO, and Gerald Chilhota, representing the President of African Export-Import Bank.
