We must ensure development of mining sector ― Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday called on leaders in the public and private sectors to ensure the development of the mining industry in the country.

Sanwo-Olu made the call at the Lagos House, Marina during a courtesy visit paid by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Architect Olamilekan Adegbite and the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uchechukwu Ogah.

The governor assured that there would be a collaboration between the Federal and state governments to ensure sustainable development in the mining sector, saying this collaboration was targeted at ensuring growth and diversification of the nation’s economy, with the outcome producing a victory for the people at the end.

According to him: “As a nation, we need to continue to see how development can happen in the mining sector, and it has to be an inclusive one.

“As much as possible, we need to push a lot of transparency there. It also has to be a development that truly reflects our federating state and the minister has assured me that it is an area in which they want to collaborate.

“And we as a State must also trust and see that we are from the same side, just like everyone sees the same sides of a coin so for us at the end of the day is development for our people, the nation, growth and diversification of our economy and it’s really an opportunity to take our state and our nation to a greater height.”

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Sanwo-Olu commended the team and assured them that his administration would ensure that there was full cooperation with the Federal Government for the benefit of the general public.

Speaking earlier, Adegbite explained that the Federal Government was using the medium to increase job opportunities in the country.

He lamented the neglect of the sector and stated that attention was gradually shifting to the mining sector.

He added that the team would visit all the states across Nigeria to enlighten them of the new development, with Lagos being the first state to be visited.

“We are here essentially in furtherance of the issues that arose from the NEC meeting that was held the last week. The potentials are in the mining industry to diversify the economy of Nigeria and create more employment,” he said.

Adegbite disclosed that a committee headed by the Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, had been set up to iron out the cases of overlapping between the Federal Government and the state governments.