Nigeria Awards Over N14bn Mining Exploration Contracts In 3yrs
Immediate past Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bawa Bwari stated this at a function held in his honour by the ministry in Abuja.
Noting that the various projects were still ongoing, Bwari, urged his successor to ensure seamless completion and continuation of projects capable of infusing growth in the solid minerals sector.
He stated that despite funding challenges which was one of the major issues while in office, the sector forged ahead to discover potentials which if properly harnessed would impact positively on the economy.
“They should maintain tempo, especially in the area of exploration. We need information, we need data, we need to know exactly what we have and what quantity. If that is done, it will better attract international investors, because we know that mining is an activity that requires a lot of capital and with the potentials we have discovered, we need big-time investors,” he said.
He maintained that with available bankable information investors will be willing to invest in the country a developement that will translate to improved revenue, jobs and standard practice in the mining sector.
“But they won’t come until the information is there. That is why we need information that is bankable and with that there will be an improvement in revenue, youths will get employment because it will create jobs and mining will be done in the best standard practice.” He explained.