NAN-HE-22
Mining
Abuja
By Lucy Nwachukwu
Abuja, Oct.20, 2016(NAN) The President, Miners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Sani Shehu, has urged the Federal Government to ensure improved data and adequate mechanisation in the mining sector.
Shehu said this at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum on Thursday in Abuja.
He said that if the sector gained support in the two areas, it would help to increase the sector’s contribution to the economy.
“The data on which they will use has to be improved because mining is trying to bring out something of value which you may not know where it is.
“Data will be able to guide the miner on what it is worth, the quality, the quantity and the likely investment that is required for one to be able to extract that mineral of value.
“So adequate data, mechanisation are the key and this are tied to funding.
“So for miners to be able to contribute or for miners to be able to make the sector contribute to the economy, they need support by way of equipment and improved data,’’ Shehu said.
He expressed displeasure at the contribution of mining to national economy, saying “it is disturbing”.
According to the miners’ president, in the 60s, 70s and even in the mid 80s, mining contributed significantly to the nation’s economy.
“We know that mining has done well but the kind of mining that did well is the mechanised mining.
“For those who are familiar with the Plateau, you will notice that the tin and columbite that was mined led to a significant income to the government.
“ That mining was fully mechanised and that is what is absent now.’’
According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the solid mineral sector contributes barely 0.3 per cent to the economy, a situation currently being aggressively addressed by the Federal Government through an intervention fund to the tune of N30 billion. (NAN)
LCN/IA
Edited by Idris Abdulrahman