As the country strives to make the mining sector a main economic hub and reduce over-dependence on oil, the federal government has called on geoscientists to key into this vision and lend the necessary support to ensure it is achieved.
This comes as the FG reiterates that it has moved away from the traditional regulatory role to provision of vital information that will attract huge investment locally and internationally in the mining sector.
Delivering his keynote address at the first International Conference and Exhibitions of the Nigerian Society of Economic Geologists held in Abuja recently, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc Olamilekan Adegbite hinted that a lot has been done in providing the necessary framework and conducive environment to entrench a robust industry under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The conference had as the Theme: Economic Diversification: the Role of the Geologist, Government and Private Sector.
The Minister while highlighting that the federal government will explore innovative options to support the provision of information on the country’s mineral resources pointed out that Nigeria and many other African countries have continued to experience under-utilisation of mineral deposits.
“I consider this theme strategic and timely, given the compelling urgency to diversify our economy for the prosperity of the nation. The theme seeks to define the roles of the critical stakeholders in developing the minerals sector, key amongst which are the government, private sector, and the professional driving the minerals sector development process.
”Nigeria’s Minerals sector offers robust economic potentials for diversification of the nation’s economy even though the country and indeed many African countries have continued to suffer under-utilization of their minerals resources” the Minister’s representative, Director-General Mining Cadastre Office, Engr. Simon Nkom noted.
While urging other stakeholders in the sector to collaborate with the federal government in building a world class mining sector, Arc Adegbite affirmed that the outcome of such efforts will benefit all and the generations of Nigerians yet unborn.
Also speaking, the President of Nigerian Society of Economic Geologists, Dr AbdulRazaq Garba described as vital the roles of geoscientists in the mineral value chain.
According to Dr. Garba who doubles as the Director General Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, NGSA, economic geologists play a role from the point of mineral exploration to actual mining, and even during the post-mining phase.
This he said is important as issues of environment and land reclamation for sustainable use are addressed.
He added that the economic geologists also have to interface with interested stakeholders in obtaining social and mining permit licenses to operate while at the same time providing investors with the prerequisites to raise capital for mineral exploration and mining.
He emphasised that the conference theme was carefully selected and underscores the role geoscientists in the diversification agenda of the Federal Government.
“Economic geologists, therefore, provide veritable and robust linkages in the entire mineral development, utilization and environmental preservation chain and are therefore key to the Federal Government’s economic diversification programme targeted at job and wealth creation” he said.
On his part, the President of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society Survey, NMGS Alabo Charlesye Douglas Charles said the Nigerian Society of Economic Geologists, NSEG is a key partner in the efforts as professionals in finding solutions to national socio-economic challenges especially as it concerns the extractive sector of the national economy.
“Economic Diversification, The Role of the Geoscientist, Government and the Private intends to bring to the fore diverse role of the geoscientist in the mineral sector and that of government and the private sectors: all in partnership as the federal government intensifies efforts towards the diversification of the nation’s economy for accelerated development and industrialization of our country” he said.
