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In the continuation of its efforts towards enhanced economic growth and development in the mining sector, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has expressed it’s willingness to collaborate and partner with Bauchi State, a mineral endowed state.

Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake, made this known during a visit by the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Bala Mohammed to the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.

On the Governor’s entourage were Commissioners of different portfolios.

Dr Alake stated that the richness of Bauchi State in mineral endowment and the determination of its Executive Governor to develop the sector alligns with the agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to diversify the economy using the solid Minerals Sector as pivot to transform our economy, generate employment and increase revenue accruable to government coffers.

The Minister emphasized that the overarching need for Nigeria to diversify the economy cannot be overstated in view of global shift from fossil fuel to green energy, stressing the present evolution in manufacturing of electric cars as an instance of increase in global demand for cleaner energy.

He said: ” So, if we do not take conscious steps, our country could be in dire straits. For our economic survival, we must diversify”.

Reeling the activities cum achievements of the Ministry under his watch since assumption of Office, Dr Alake said deliberate policies and proactive measures had been taken by the Ministry in line with Presidential directive to sanitize the sector coupled with his advocacy visits to international fora on mining which included Perth, Australia; UNGA meeting (New York, USA) and Saudi Arabia to woo foreign investors.

The Minister said:” All our activities In the last few months, generated a lot of global attention, interest and support from foreign investors. We are making headway in the sector.”

Elaborating further, he stated that the Ministry is making concerted efforts as well to promote and encourage local investment in the sector by way of creating conducive environment, adding, sustaining a robust engagement between Federal and State governments that will reduce friction is paramount to this administration.

He said: ”State can now apply for mining licence and mine in their state, and pay necessary royalty and taxes to the Federal Government”.

In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed said Bauchi State will partner with the Federal Government in its bid to maximize benefits of minerals eg lithium, lead, tin, columbite, kaolin etc; that abound to enhance it’s economic prosperity.

While expressing his total support for the policies and proactive programmes of the Ministry to sanitize the mining sector, the Executive Governor emphatically stated that with the shift of attention to solid minerals cum green energy, Bauchi State will key into the policies of the Ministry of Solid Minerals, especially promoting value addition to mineral processing in its state in addition to creating special purpose vehicle to develop the sector.