By Chioma Onuegbu

Uyo—IN its bid to expand the economic base of Akwa Ibom State, the state government has commenced plans to explore the reported gold and coal deposits in parts of the state.

Chairman of Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, AKICORP, Dr. Elijah Akpan, who disclosed this in Uyo, explained that geologists would soon be contracted to determine the locations and viability of the two solid minerals in the state.

Akpan said that the current administration was committed to exploring other avenues that would generate revenue for the state and create employment opportunities instead of relying on the dwindling crude oil revenue.

He said: “Chinese and Canadians are coming with their superior technology that will be based on using satellite technology to locate the exact locations of these minerals and how viable they are.”

He added that the state government was also partnering China in other areas such as manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, oil and gas, automobile, mining, tourism, energy and railway, stressing that the growing partnership was traceable to China’s renewed and favourable interest in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.