THE Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc’ Musa Mohammed Sada, has contended that the nation’s mining industry ought to be the largest and most vibrant industry providing millions of jobs to the economy, giving its vastness and availability in every state of the Federation.

To this extent, he has reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to partner with potential mining investors for the sustainable growth of the mining sector.

Sada made this reaffirmation on Friday, during a meeting with a team of delegation from Zuma Nigeria Limited led by the Managing Director, Dr. Innocent Ezuma, in Abuja.

The Minister decried the hitherto moribund state of the nation’s mining sector, noting that giving the abundance of mineral resources in almost all the states of the Federation, the mining sector is supposed to be the economic base of Nigeria.

He said, “As far as I am concerned in Nigeria, this sector is supposed to be the number one industry in terms of support to this country, the edge the sector has, is job creation. He noted the present administration’s readiness to partner with interested investors both locally and internationally to grow the mining sector in Nigeria.

“We will do everything possible to ensure investors that are serious in operating in this industry are encouraged,” he stressed.

Arc. Sada commended the delegation for the confidence and interest shown at developing the sector.
He further disclosed that the Federal Government is working proactively on the best ways Coal to Power Project could be achieved as alternative source of energy for the country.

While assuring the delegation of an enabling environment to exploit the nation’s mineral resources, the Minister reiterated the Federal Government‘s determination to make Nigeria one of the twenty developed countries among the comity of nations in the year 20_20.

Earlier in his remark, the leader of the delegation and the Managing Director, Zuma Nigeria Limited. Dr. Innocent Esuma said the mission of their visit was to express their appreciation to the Minister for granting the mining lease of their company as well as to brief him on the work progress at the site.

Dr. Esuma said the company is into coal exploration for the Coal to Power Project with the company site in Okogbo village, Ankpa, Kogi State to address the militating power problem in Nigeria.

He added that the company engaged other mining consultants from France, South Africa and the United States of America to achieve the company’s mandate of exploring coal for power generation.

Dr. Emusa explained that the company, which is left to do the final map design for equipments to move into the site, had already completed the coal exploration, Environmental Impact Assessment and had signed the land lease Memorandum of Understanding as part of the obligation of Nigeria Mining Law.