The governments of Kaduna and Zamfara States in southwestern Nigeria have called on both local and international investors who are willing to invest in solid minerals in the country to avail themselves the opportunity provided by the abundant reserves of the natural resources in their states by coming to invest, while assuring of safety and favourable operating environment.
In their separate chat with newsmen at the end of the just concluded second edition of the African Natural Resource and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS), the governors of both states who acknowledged the largely untapped abundant solid mineral resources of the states committed to keying into the diversification agenda of the federal government by promoting investments in the sector.
According to them, adequate measures were already in place to safeguard investors and their investments in the face of the security challenges in the country.
Speaking, the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, said his state is blessed with 25 different solid minerals including gold, lithium, iron ore, tin among others in commercial quantity, and still counting.
He said given that mining is in the exclusive list of the Nigerian constitution, making the sole owner and custodian, the state government in its determination to develop the sector tried to be a player in the industry by setting up Kaduna Mining Development Company (KMDC) which now have over 40 active licenses.
“So, with that, we now invite investors to come to the state and partner with the Kaduna Mining Development Company so that they could find it easier to operate.
“Operationalisation is PPP (Public Private Partnership) inclined. We sign joint venture agreement with investors, both local and international, for them to mine and then we come up with the sharing formula,” he said.
He said arrangements were in place to ensure safety and ease of doing business for investors in the state, urging willing investors to make the state their destination.
He explained that sole aim of setting up the Kaduna Investment Protection Agency (KadIPA) is to be like a one-stop shop for any investor that is coming into Kaduna to ease all the bureaucratic bottlenecks and to allow them to have easy access to their investment.
The governor who preferred to call the locals engaging in manual mining activities for their daily bread artisanal miners against the popular label of illegal miners used for them said they were being sensitised and being formalised into co-operatives.
In his personal remark, Buba said, “These are part of the vision of His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, and he is really giving us all the necessary cooperation that is required for us to succeed.”
On his part, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, who was represented by the Executive Secretary (ES), Zamfara Investment Promotion Agency (ZIPA), Mariam Yaro, said the state has a lot to offer to would-be investors, with at least 27 different solid minerals – gold, lithium among other critical minerals beneath the surface within its territorial jurisdiction.
He therefore called on willing investors, both local and international, to take advantage of the open door to intending mining investors in the state.
On the security concerns in the area, the governor allayed the fears of investors, saying the state government had put mechanisms in place to ensure Investors’ safety and the enabling environment to facilitate ease of doing business, urging those with their investment plans not to hesitate because of what they hear.
“To the best of my knowledge, we have 27 different minerals in commercial quantity in Zamfara, and you also know that apart from the minerals, a state is very well endowed with agricultural produce. When you take these two critical aspects of the economy together, you would agree with me that Zamfara is a sure destination for investors.
“So, those willing to invest, should come to Zamfara. And honestly no one should be scared of investing as their safety and enabling environment is assured. I know that in other areas like the Republic of Congo, where you have all these diamonds and others, no matter the insecurity so long as people know that there are minerals resources there, they would always find their way.
He said security arrangement is thick enough to protect people and and their interests in the state as it is inclusive of all relevant security outfits, local vigilantes, and the citizens, adding that they expect to have about 300 representatives from each of the 14 local governments areas that would also assist in the area of security for the state.
He also noted that, considering the fact that many women today are boosting their economy in artisanal and small scale mining, the government is doing everything possible to empower women in the state by encouraging and integrating them formally into the sector.
