The Federal Government has introduced a new policy, mandating mining companies use their solid minerals to establish factories in the country rather than carting them away to process abroad.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, during a media briefing for the one-year anniversary of President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
Alake said that the move was to prove the seriousness of the administration’s involvement in the development of the solid mineral sector.
He said that the ministry has revoked the mining licenses of no fewer than nine thousand dormant companies, that got approval but did not use the licenses to produce anything.
Alake boasted that the Tinubu administration was determined to turn the solid mineral industry into a major economic sector to compete favourably with the oil and gas industry and create a new source of wealth for Nigeria.
Similarly, the minister of Steel Development, Shuaib Audu Abubakar, revealed that the federal government had approved the sourcing of $25 million to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Plant in Kogi State, starting with the production of iron rods for the construction industry.
Abubakar said that the ministry was in the final stages of obtaining private sector funding to get the plant to partially produce important military hardware and save the country from importing the core items abroad.
He stated that the ministry was also deliberating on the desirability of bringing back the Russian firm that constructed the Ajaokuta steel plant or engaging other companies from China, India and Nigeria to get the place working maximally for the benefit of the country.
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