The Mining Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Federal Government to establish a Minerals Development Fund (MDF) to assist the mining sector.

President of the association, Alhaji Sani Shehu, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, that the association was faced with three needs that had been hampering its growth. He said one of those needs was heavy financial injection by government as enshrined in the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act 2007 to develop to the sector.

Minerals and Mining Act 2007 stipulates that artisanal and small-scale mining operations in the country should have technical assistance and or funding of the World Bank through sustainable management of mineral resources projects.

“We are appealing to president of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to, in the spirit of economic diversification of the government, to as a matter of urgency, establish this Mineral Development Fund.

“The third challenge is the challenge of sensitisation and mobilisation, in which case, the association is ready to partner with government to sensitise miners at every level.”

Shehu said that another problem was rules and regulations which, he said the association received few weeks ago. He said that members of the association were willing to pay their royalties to government and were environmentally conscious to mine with consideration for health and safety regulations.