Nasarawa State has announced that it has secured licences to explore and exploit gold, tin and lithium deposits in the state.
The state governor, Abdullahi Sule, revealed this during a courtesy call on the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, in Abuja on Monday.
According to a statement by Segun Tomori, the media aide to the minister, the governor said he was grateful to the minister for facilitating the licences, which he said were obtained recently.
He said, “Nasarawa State is blessed with three mineral resources that have great potential for development. We have gold, tin and lithium in different locations in the state. However, we are aware that the government alone cannot effectively manage these resources. That is why we have decided to adopt a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, where we will work with reputable investors who will bring in their expertise and capital, while the state will provide the necessary support and oversight. This way, we can ensure that the state and the people benefit maximally from these resources.”
The governor also commended the minister for his efforts to revive the mining sector in the country, saying that he was impressed by the progress made in securing and developing the mining sites.
He said he came to update the minister on the ongoing construction of a large-scale lithium plant in the state, which he said would create jobs and boost the economy.
He also expressed his interest in learning from the best practices of the ministry in the mining sector.
