By Fatima Saka
Minister of Mines and Steel Development Olamilekan Adegbite, has said the ministry would soon establish mineral buying centers in the country.
The Minister revealed this at the ongoing NBA, Ibadan Law Week on Thursday. Saying this will encourage artisan miners to contribute their own quarter to the country’s’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Adegbite, who was represented by the Ministry’s South-West Zonal Director, Mr Emmanuel Ajayi, said the centres would enable local miners contribute more than there current status
The minister remarked that various local and international mining investors had established factories across the nation.
According to Adegbite, factors affecting revenue generation in the sector include insecurity, illegal mining and high interest rate on bank loans to finance mining rites.
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The NBA Week Panelists chaired by the Kabiyesi of Ishotu, Ijesa, Prof. Akinola Owosekun, spoke on the topic, “Minerals Mining And Regulation; Enhancing The National Revenue”.
He said currently, 80 to 85 percent of gold production in Nigeria stemmed from artisanal and small-scale miners.
Owosekun also urged the government to provide adequate laws and regulations for the mining sector to protect miners.
One of the panelists, Mr Sanyaolu Akinyele, Esq, urged lawyers to take personal interest in mining, especially if one knew the onus and relation well with foreign investors.
“Metallic and nonmetallic minerals have the highest interest rates, which one can invest in,” he said.
Also, Mr Sina Sipasi, a leading lawyer, who specialized in mineral development, stressed the need for the country to first attract more revenue into the mining Sector.
“We need to really show that Nigeria is producing more goods to export and it’s the strength of our export that will give us more revenue,” Sipasi said.
