Mining sector: Stop playing second fiddle, FG tasks professionals

THE Federal Government, on Monday, reappraised its four years in office, especially in the mining industry, and concluded that it had laid a solid foundation for the sector, urging the professionals to stop playing second fiddle.

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Honourable Abubakar Bawa Bwari disclosed this during his valedictory speech in Abuja.

According to him: “I am confident that as professionals, you have the ability to turn the fortunes of the minerals and metals sector around, but you must brace up and stop playing second fiddle.

“We have laid a solid foundation for the sector and it is now left for you to build on our successes. I want to urge you, as management and staff of the ministry to keep the momentum going,” he pleaded.

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Honourable Bwari said as regulators, they must continuously train and retrain themselves to become experts in their fields so that they could continue to set the agenda for the industry.

He noted that the world of mining is a very scientific one and knowledge is critical to the growth of the sector.

“The measure of confidence that investors will have in your laws, programs and policies will depend largely on the respect they have for the integrity of your processes. It is that respect that will eventually lead them to commit huge resources to invest in the sector.

“The truth is, we have world-class mineral resources, many of which are in the best possible grade. We must now show the world that we have the capacity and willpower to attract businessmen who are looking for places to invest.

“On our part, we have been able to leave a legacy of hard work, transparency and commitment to the ideals of sustainable mining for shared mining prosperity,” he stated.

The minister, therefore, urged them to continue to work very hard to make the sector a success so that Nigeria’s hope for economic diversification through the solid minerals sector would be accomplished.