The federal government’s Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in partnership with the World Bank has commenced data capturing of sites where mineral resources are located in selected 19 states of the federation.
The data capturing process for mineral exploration, which started in Ilorin, Kwara state capital and its environs on Monday, would include seven local government areas of the state.
Speaking during sensitization programme on data capturing processes of the affected locations among residents of the state, the deputy project coordinator, Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification (mindiver) of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mallam Abba Usman, said that the need to sensitize people on airborne survey became necessary to discourage panic when aircraft fly at lower altitude to do the data capturing.
Mallam Usman, who allayed fears of residents of Kwara state over the airborne survey activities, said that the activities would not cause any harm to either farm crops or property, adding, “there’s no cause for alarm”.
The mining expert, who highlighted the benefits of the project, said that it would encourage investment and generate high number of employment opportunities for the state.
“Mining is a capital intensive venture. Thus, investigation is necessary for mineral exploitation. And since these mineral deposits are buried deep down in the soil, investigation is necessary to be done in order not to cause damage as against when done based on assumption.
“After the data gathering, you can know where the mineral resources are located and what type of mineral resources are deposited. And investors can only come to areas where the minerals are located. The data would help investors to make decisions as lack of accurate data had discouraged investors before now”, he said.
Usman, who emphasised the need to sensitize people of Kwara state on the intention to capture data of mineral resources in Kwara state, said that the activities may generate panic among people if they are not well informed.
“The selected 19 states of Kwara, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Ebonyi, Enugu, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna, Niger, Kogi, Taraba, Benue, Plateau, Nassarawa, Bauchi and the FCT were chosen based on outcome of previous survey carried out between 2003 and 2011. This time around, the airborne survey would reveal high level of detail, as aircraft with yellow marks would fly closer to the ground to bring closer vision which may bring panic to people. Thus the need for sensitization. The airborne survey is starting from Kwara state among all other states.
“This is more so as mining requires appropriate data. Kwara state government has made efforts to get investors to the state as the state is well endowed with mineral resources. Thus, there’s a need to get data which investors can bank on and invest in towards sustainable development of the state.
World Bank is financing the project and Kwara state is among 19 states already identified for the project. Seven LGAs to be covered include Ilorin West, Oyun, Asa, Oke Ero, Offa, Moro, and Irepodun.
Also speaking, Kwara State Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Hajia Fatima Arinola Lawal, represented by the DPFS of the ministry, Hajia Habiba Saidu, said that success of the project would discourage dependence on federal allocation and encourage additional revenue sources for the state, “more so, now that Nigeria economy needs revival”.
In his speech, the chairman, Kwara State Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIRECO), Engineer Abdulrahman Ottan, said that the exercise is very essential, “because mining is an expensive venture that requires appropriate data for proper planning to de-risk the investment going by the nature of mining investment worldwide.
“Because of the solid mineral potential of Kwara state and the other 19 states, that is why the World Bank is financing this project coded as MINDIVER to be able to collect geo data that will enhance the development of mining in Nigeria”.
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