Professionals stake interest in exploration businessTHE Minister of Mines and Steel, Musa Sada, has unfolded plans by his ninistry to establish mineral cottage industries in all the geo-political zones in the country.Already, the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), has expressed interest in the exploration of the over 30 minerals, spread across the country.Sada explained that the initiative was in line with thePresident's transformation agenda and the ministry had already concluded plans to commence the scheme with a pilot project in Bauchi.The minister, who gave the information while playing host to the Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, informed that the cottage industries will be spread across the 774 local government areas of the country.He said that the pilot programme will take off from one Local Government Area in Bauchi State before spreading to other local government areas across the country.He said this was based on the fact that every local government area in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is endowed with at least one solid mineral resource.'Necessary legislative and institutional frameworks had been put in place to drive the sector and reforms are on-going,' he said.The minister added that the issue of illegal mining across the country was being addressed in order to protect lives, generate revenue, protect the environment and attract foreign direct investments and local investors to the mining industry.He urged every state government of the federation to participate actively in mining operations in their respective domains, through the Mineral Resource and Environmental Management Committees.However, the minister observed that inadequate funding remained a challenge militating against the development of the sector and oversight functions on operators in the sectorYuguda disclosed that the state, with several mineral resources such as tourmaline, lead, salt, zink, gypsum, garnet topaz, aquamarine, copper, kaoline and limestone was ready to partner with the Federal Government and exploit solid mineral endowment as alternative source of revenue and job creation.He appealed to the minister for intervention in addressing the issue of illegal mining in the state to curb the spread of environmental hazards.APBN's President, Segun Ajanlekoko, gave hint of APBN's interest, when he led a delegation of the association to the office of Minister of Mines and Steel, Musa Sada, in Abuja, at the weekend.He stressed that the drive for a transformation agenda willultimately berealised with meaningful contribution of APBN to the economic plans of President Jonathan's administration.Ajanlekoko explained that the purpose of the visit to the minister was to explore areas of cooperation with the ministry and contribute to moving the sector forward.Established in 1983 and recognized by the Federal Government in 1992, APBN is an umbrella body of all recognized and chartered professional Institutes, Institutions, Associations and Societies in Nigeria.While seeking support for the association, he appealed to the government to evolve a deliberate policy for the utilization of indigenous professionals in the developmental efforts of the country.
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