The Federal Government has expressed optimism in the capacity of the mining and agricultural sectors to diversify the nation’s economy and create well-paying jobs and wealth for citizens of the country.
President Buhari made the declaration, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, venue of the opening of the 56th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS).
The president, who was represented by the Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uchechukwu Ogar, reiterated his administration’s commitment to diversifying the nation’s economy away from dependence on oil & gas using mining and agricultural sectors as viable options.
President Buhari noted that the need to improve the mining sector has necessitated the roll-out of series of policy initiatives aimed at not only revamping the Nigerian economy but also ensuring that the economic growth arising therefrom are inclusive and sustainable.
“This means that we are not only interested in the macro-economic growth but also in getting the growth to be felt by the most vulnerable groups of our citizens, who are usually left behind by the conventional economic models.
“In shaping the policies and initiatives in these sectors, the administration has generously received massive technical support from the professional societies and associations making the policies indeed to be homegrown solutions rather than those imposed on us,” the President stated.
President Buhari also disclosed that in furtherance of his administration’s commitment and resolve to address the security challenges facing the country, he had charged the newly decorated service chiefs that they have a few weeks to crush all forms of criminality in the country, saying the sovereignty of the nation cannot be yielded to a bunch of individuals who have refused to see reasons to abandon their criminality.
He said the resolve of some individuals to break laws and engage in outright criminality, through banditry and other illegal activities, are having serious implications on the various reform agendas of his administration, especially in the mineral, energy and agricultural sectors.
The President, who revealed that it is difficult to achieve any meaningful development in any environment plagued with security challenges, explained that intelligence-gathering efforts have confirmed that most of the criminal elements have infiltrated the mining industry, using it as means of funding despicable activities.
He stated: “It is with this understanding that we recently took the painful but necessary decision of banning all forms of mining activities in Zamfara State where armed banditry has persisted. It is also to this end that I directed the Ministers of Mines and Steel Development to strengthen collaboration with State Governments and relevant security agencies to ensure the security and safety of all mining areas. In so doing, we can achieve sustainable development of the minerals sector for the peace and security of our great country and good people.”
President Buhari disclosed that in furtherance of his administration’s commitment and resolve to address the security challenges facing the country, he had recently charged the newly decorated service chiefs that they have a few weeks to crush all forms of criminality in the country, saying the sovereignty of the nation cannot be yielded to a bunch of individuals who have refused to see reasons to abandon their criminality.
In his address, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, noted that although deregulation of oil was imminent, there would be provision of cleaner, credible and cheaper fuel as an alternative to Nigerians, which he said would be a responsible way of also maintaining the environment, before the deregulation.
The minister, who was optimistic that the deregulation of PMS would be achieved this year, commended NMGS for its contribution to the development of the oil and gas sector.
Speaking at the conference, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State called for the delisting of mineral resources from the exclusive list for states to fully tap the potentials in mineral resources.
Makinde also charged the National Assembly to push for resource control for states to ensure meaningful development, saying: “One of the factors holding back exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in various states, including Oyo State, is the ownership of resources.”
In a paper titled: “Expanding the Frontiers of Exploration, Creating New Opportunities for Growth”, NNPC GMD, Mallam Merle Kyari, said the nation needed to move away from oil and focus more on gas, while he pledged the readiness of NNPC to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to put the nation on the path of development.
The conference, with the theme: “Responsible Exploration and Exploitation of Mineral Resources in a Secured Environment”, was attended by Governor Seyi Makinde; Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry; Minister of States, Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uchechukwu Ogah; Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Merle Kyari; Chairman, Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance, Senator Adelere Oriolowo and the Acting Vice Chancellor, UI, Professor Babatunde Ekanola, among others.
PIAK
