The All Progressive Congress (APC) led administration in Gombe State has declared that it is committed to partnering with operators and other stakeholders in the mining sector to unlock and tap the endowed mineral resources in Gombe in order to drive the economic diversification agenda of the state.
The declaration was made by the State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, while declaring open a 2-day strategic engagement workshop on coal, industrial and metallic minerals for North-East geo-political zone, organised by Gombe State government in collaboration with the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) under the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.
The governor described as apt, the objective of the workshop, which aims to educate stakeholders on how to key into opportunities and other benefits in the minerals sector as an alternative revenue earner which is in line with the shared objective of diversifying the economy through the development of the non-oil sector.
Inuwa Yahaya who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, said that as a leading commercial hub in the North-East sub-region, Gombe sits on over 50 solid minerals 6 of which are industrial minerals.
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He also noted that Gombe State is among the leading producers of gypsum, limestone and coal in the country, stating that the recent discovery of the hydrocarbon by NNPC has further cemented Gombe status as a minerals-rich state in Nigeria.
The governor urged companies, investors and mining communities to work closely with the state Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and channel all minerals, mining and allied issues for proper guidance, regulatory compliance and documentation.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Executive Secretary, Solid Minerals Development Fund, Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi, represented by the Director, Finance and Accounts, Prince Samuel Aromolaran, said that the rationale behind the workshop was to bring together experts and other stakeholders in the mining sector to cross-fertilize ideas on mining operation, its economic impacts and health implication among others.
While delivering his goodwill message, the Commissioner, Ministry for Energy and Mineral Resources, Gombe State, Alhaji Shehu Ibrahim Madugu noted that it requires broad-based collaboration with stakeholders playing their respective roles to the best of their abilities in that economic drive.
He urged participants to concentrate on mining issues for a better result at the end of the event with a view to developing ways of turning around the nation’s untapped natural resources as contained in a statement by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the governor.
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