The Nigerian government has reiterated its firm resolve to diversify the economy through efficient and effective exploration and exploitation of its solid mineral resources to achieve rapid socio-economic growth.
Receiving an 18-member delegation from the Ghana College of Defence Studies, led by Brigadier-General Fred Ntiri, on behalf of the permanent secretary, the director of the artisanal & small-scale mining department in the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development,Mr. Yunnusa Muhammed informed the visitors that, in response to plummeting revenue from a monolithic Nigerian economy, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration deemed it imperative to diversify the economy in line with its renewed hope agenda.
This, according to him, aims to increase revenue to government coffers and enhance the country’s gross domestic product through the solid mineral sector.
The dqirector said, “Nigeria has operated a monolithic economy since the late 1950s. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deemed it necessary to diversify the economy. The solid minerals sector is now being accorded high priority to achieve rapid socio-economic development and prosperity for the benefit of Nigerians.”
He expressed strong optimism that the interactive forum between the management of the ministry and the Ghana College of Defence Studies, led by Brigadier-General Ntiri, would expand their frontiers of knowledge.
Speaking about international best practices in mining, Muhammed asserted that Nigeria stands to gain from Ghana’s rich experience spanning several decades, especially in artisanal and small-scale mining.
In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, Ntiri stated that their visit to the ministry was part of a deliberate initiative to gain experiential knowledge of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector beyond their classroom environment. The theme of their study visit was “Environment, Security & Development.” He affirmed that the overall mandate of the Ghana College of Defence Studies is woven around deploying strategies that would enhance the living standards of Ghanaians.
In her lead presentation, director of the mines environmental compliance department, Dr. Vivian Okono enlightened the visitors on the structure of the ministry, regulatory framework, functions of departments, agencies and institutions, and opportunities and government initiatives.
A statement by the ministry’s head of information and public relations, Alaba Balogun highlighted that the interactive session generated by Okono’s presentation enriched the visitors’ horizon with gainful insights into the ministry’s policies, initiatives and measures aimed at sanitising the solid minerals sector of the economy.
The director of the mines inspectorate department, Engr. Imam Ganiyu and other management staff contributed useful insights during the meeting.
