By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan
Olamilekan Adegbite, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, has said that the ministry was working on various initiatives to establish mineral buying centres in the country.
Adegbite said at the ongoing NBA, Ibadan Law Week on Thursday that the aim was to encourage artisan miners and boost their contribution to the country’s’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Adegbite, who was represented by the Ministry’s South-West Zonal Director, Mr Emmanuel Ajayi, said the centres would also enable local miners contribute more than there current status.
The NBA Week Panelists chaired by the Kabiyesi of Ishotu, Ijesa, Prof. Akinola Owosekun, spoke on the topic, “Minerals Mining And Regulation; Enhancing The National Revenue”.
Adegbite said currently, 80 to 85 per cent of gold production in Nigeria stemmed from artisanal and small-scale miners.
The minister remarked that various local and international mining investors had established factories across the nation.
According to Adegbite, factors affecting revenue generation in the sector include insecurity, illegal mining and high interest rate on bank loans to finance mining rites.
Owosekun also urged the government to provide adequate laws and regulations for the mining sector to protect miners.
One of the panelists, Mr Sanyaolu Akinyele, Esq, urged lawyers to take personal interest in mining, especially if one knew the onus and relate well with foreign investors.
“Metallic and non-metalic minerals have the highest interest rates, which one can invest in,” he said.
Also, a leading Mining Lawyer, who specialised in mineral development, Mr Sina Sipasi, stressed the need for the country to first attract more revenue into the mining Sector.
“We need to really show that Nigeria is producing more goods to export and it’s the strength of our export that will give us more revenue,” Sipasi said. (NAN)
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