The project was signed between the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), and China Geological Survey (CGS), in Abuja.
While flagging off the exercise, the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa Bwari, said the key areas being considered were the low-density geochemical mapping and the National Geo-information System and Geo-data sharing, which were two critical areas necessary for nation building.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari was determined to reposition the mining sector and significantly improve its contributions to the GDP, saying he had, therefore, taken decisive steps in advancing the diversification agenda of the Federal Government by derisking the sector in many ways.
These, according to him, include the recent commissioning of the Nationwide Integrated Minerals Exploration Programme (NIMEP), acquisition of 26,000 line-kilometres of Electromagnetic data, improved funding of the sector and initiation of the National Council on Mining among other initiatives.
The minister said at the onset of the current administration, his ministry had come up with a robust Roadmap for the mining sector with the objective of advancing and adding value to the use of different mineral commodities for the growth and sustainable development of the country.
Alhaji Bwari said the programme was, therefore, coming at the most auspicious time and appreciated the CGS for the critical input.
“With over 44 identified and presumably other yet undiscovered minerals in Nigeria, the need for a more defined array of geoscience information, especially geochemical data, becomes essential for mining sector investment and for environmental sustainability.
“This will no doubt contribute to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), target of the present administration.
“Moreover, the operationalisation of Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs), with China, Morocco, South Africa and others are also part of the administration’s agenda of raising the contribution of the mining sector to the economy of the nation, addressing the challenges of youth unemployment and poverty, and engendering safer mining practices.” He added.
He explained that one of the key enablers that would fast-track the achievement of the objectives was the building of the necessary technical and other requisite skills that would ensure the supply of steady talent required by the sector in Nigeria.
The minister then urged all the participants to take the project seriously, considering the enormous efforts that both parties have put in place to actualize the programme.
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