FG Pledges to
FG Pledges to Diversify Economy through Mineral and
Mental Sector- Mu’azu
The urgent need to develop the nation’ s minerals and metals
sector that would serve as catalyst in diversifying the country
mono-product economy has been re-emphasized.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel
Development, Dr. Abdulkadir Mu”azu, stated this while declaring
open the third phase of the second edition of the Nigeria
Metallurgical Industry Stakeholders’ Forum held on 24th to 25th
June, 2019 at Metallurgical Development Center, Jo’s, Plateau
State.
Dr. Mu’azu who was represented by the Director, Reforms
Coordination and Service Improvement, Mr. Zacchaeus Atte, said that
the development of the Steel and other metals is unarguably
remained the bedrock of industrialization, sustainable growth and
development of the nation.
In his words: “Virtually everything we use today either has
components of metals or is produced using metallic equipment.”
According to him, it is in this regard that the administration of
President MuhammPix
Buhari is poised to create enabling environment for metallurgical
operators and all other allied metal outfits in the sector with a
view to creating jobs and wealth for national prosperity.
The part of efforts include development of Roadmap for the
sector, collaboration with all relevant government agencies,
recovery and re-operation of ASCL, Ajaokuta; NIOMCO, Itakpe; DSCL,
Aladja and ALSCON, among others, taken to reposition the sector to
attain its pride of place as the bedrock of industrialization, he
said.
The Forum, with the theme: ‘Repositioning the Nigeria Minerals
and Metals Sector into a Destination for Job creation and National
Prosperity’, was geared toward engaging with metal operators in the
Noth-central geopolitical zone for informed participation in the
drive to develop the minerals and metals sector.
Giving overview of the metal sector, Director, Metallurgical
Inspectorate and Raw Materials Development, Mr. Victor Ihebinike,
noted that policy formulation as regards the establishment of the
Metallurgical industry generally envisaged on the availability of
local raw material input.
He said the failure in the past governments to develop the metal
sector was “attributed to our inability to do the right things at
the right time.”
However, he said the ministry has been working assiduously
towards the enactment of the Nigerian Metallurgical Industry Bill
that would drive effective regulation in the sector.
“The Federal Government is encouraging metal sector operators,
especially local producers of metallurgical miners towards ensuring
local beneficiation of metallurgical raw materials in Nigeria in
order to put an end to the ‘dig it and ship it’ syndrome”, he
said.
In the goodwill messages, the various speakers bemoaned the
failure of successive governments to develop the metal sector. They
nevertheless commended efforts being made by the present
administration to reposition the steel and metal sector.
Timothy Akpooili
Asst. Director (Press)
For: Director (Press)