NAN-H-32
Salt
By Nabilu Balarabe
Wukari (Taraba), Dec. 14, 2016 (NAN ) Mr Paul Agbo, the District Head of Akwana in Wukari Council Area of Taraba, on Wednesday urged miners to invest in the huge deposit of salt in the area.
Agbo told the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN ) in Akwana that the salt, which was rich in iodine, was in commercial quantity.
He said investment in the commodity would modernise the current local salt extraction process to boost productivity.
He said Akwana District, which covers the landmass of 41 km, could meet the bulk of the nation’s s salt demand if its potential was properly harnessed.
The traditional ruler appealed to the State and Federal Governments to woo investor to the area to raise the income level of its people and increase revenue generation.
On his part, a stakeholder in salt management , Mr Simon Sengha, said salt production was the major economic activity of people in the area since ancient times.
“ Salt production in Akwana dates back to the Trans Saharan trade during which merchants from far North usually came to buy salt here and export it to as far as present day Libya.
“ The quantity of salt in Akwana is beyond the horizon of ordinary human estimation because, apart from rain water, all other sources of water within the vicinity of Akwana town taste salty.
“ Advance technology is yet to be introduced in the process of extraction, filtration, evaporation, crystallisation and distillation of the salt.
“ The productivity of salt in Akwana is inadequate to bring economy of cost because it takes a great deal of physical labour to record a minimal result,” Sengha said.
He said apart from inadequate modern technology, disruption of salt mine fields by grazing activities was a factor constraining salt production in the area.
The expert, however , said investment in mineral resources in the area could be achieved through provision of infrastructure and tackling the fragile security situation in the area.
“ Government should beef up security in Akwana to mitigate the deteriorating security state in order to ensure enabling atmosphere of economic growth and development.
“ It should also liaise with investors to transform the salt production from long-lived crude methods to a modern industrialised system.
“ With improved security situation, resources tapped here will benefit economy drive through creation of wealth and job in the midst of scarce resources,” Sengha said.
NAN reports that other mineral resources available at Akwana includes: Gypsum, Lead, Zinc Barium, Tantalite, Barite, Limestone and Fluorite. (NAN )
NB/AMY/AMY
Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf