FG constitutes committee on importation of mineral resources

THE Federal Government has constituted acommittee that would advise it on the requests of some companies to import Bentonite and Barite, which are essential ingredients in carrying out drilling operations in the oil industry.The Minister of Mines and Steel, Mr Mohammad Sada, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja, said the constitution of the committee was informed by the need to consider the national production of the minerals.He said that government, in 2005, had placed a ban on the importation of the the minerals which were considered to be available in commercial quantities to meet local requirements.He further said that the objective of the ban was to encourage and increase self sufficiency in the production of the minerals for local consumption and export.While noting that the ban was still in force, he said government was considering embarking on the diversification of the nation's economy from an oil-dependent one to a non-oil dependent one.
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