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Vice President Goodluck Jonathan has called on investors in the mining and metal sector to pay attention to corporate social responsibility by providing amenities, services and facilities that impact positively on the lives of members of the communities where they do business.
Goodluck who gave the charge in Abuja while launching the National Minerals and Metal Policy also assured the investors that the present administration was ready to partner with them.
The Vice President while disclosing that government is focusing on the development of seven strategic minerals whose potentials to attract genuine investment have been globally acknowledge, said the development will enable Nigeria to take its proper place on the mining map of the world.
He therefore called on the host communities to regard all genuine miners as partners in progress because their activities, if carried out in accordance with global best practice, are ultimately beneficial to all stakeholders.
While noting that the present administration is set to develop mineral and metal sector to serve as a launching pad for the development of other sectors of the economy, the Vice President said mineral and metals development will provide raw materials for local industries, create a local infrastructure base, and create wealth in rural areas.
“It will boost the income, and creates salutary spin-off in all sectors of our national life. It is needless to add that the production of steel of steel is an index of the development of a nation, and that this nation requires steel for achievement of vision 20:202.
“The Mineral sector has the capacity to serve as a launching pad for the development of other sectors of the economy there is no state in our federation that is not endowed with one form of precious mineral or the other” he stated.
Goodluck said “we are a favoured people. We must therefore take advantage of these blessings and do what is right for our nation. Here lays the significance and challenge of today’s ceremony”
Sarafa Ishola, Minister of Mines and Steel Development in his remarks said the ministry is focusing on the development of seven strategic minerals whose potentials to attract genuine investment have been globally acknowledge.
According to him their choice is not only anchored on their ability to attract private finance but mote importantly because Nigeria has a comparative advantage in their development adding that further development will enable Nigeria to take its proper place on the mining map of the world.
The minister also made clarification on the revocation of licences reported by the media sometimes ago stressing “the ministry has neither revoked nor withdrawn any licence since the inception of this administration, genuine licences are currently operating in the field actively”
He explained that the ministry only directed that all licence will be revalidated after development of the mining regulations, primarily based on the following criteria technical ability, financial capability, and minimum work programme
“Title holders that meet the set criteria will be allowed to continue with their activities; those that have defects will be allowed to cure the defects within stipulated period, while those that do not have business in mining in the ab ignition will have their licenses revoked”
He disclosed that the Nigeria Geological Survey (NGSA) now has a mineral occurrence database of 36 states plus the FCT and has generated a lot of products for dissemination to investors and wider public
Goodluck who gave the charge in Abuja while launching the National Minerals and Metal Policy also assured the investors that the present administration was ready to partner with them.
The Vice President while disclosing that government is focusing on the development of seven strategic minerals whose potentials to attract genuine investment have been globally acknowledge, said the development will enable Nigeria to take its proper place on the mining map of the world.
He therefore called on the host communities to regard all genuine miners as partners in progress because their activities, if carried out in accordance with global best practice, are ultimately beneficial to all stakeholders.
While noting that the present administration is set to develop mineral and metal sector to serve as a launching pad for the development of other sectors of the economy, the Vice President said mineral and metals development will provide raw materials for local industries, create a local infrastructure base, and create wealth in rural areas.
“It will boost the income, and creates salutary spin-off in all sectors of our national life. It is needless to add that the production of steel of steel is an index of the development of a nation, and that this nation requires steel for achievement of vision 20:202.
“The Mineral sector has the capacity to serve as a launching pad for the development of other sectors of the economy there is no state in our federation that is not endowed with one form of precious mineral or the other” he stated.
Goodluck said “we are a favoured people. We must therefore take advantage of these blessings and do what is right for our nation. Here lays the significance and challenge of today’s ceremony”
Sarafa Ishola, Minister of Mines and Steel Development in his remarks said the ministry is focusing on the development of seven strategic minerals whose potentials to attract genuine investment have been globally acknowledge.
According to him their choice is not only anchored on their ability to attract private finance but mote importantly because Nigeria has a comparative advantage in their development adding that further development will enable Nigeria to take its proper place on the mining map of the world.
The minister also made clarification on the revocation of licences reported by the media sometimes ago stressing “the ministry has neither revoked nor withdrawn any licence since the inception of this administration, genuine licences are currently operating in the field actively”
He explained that the ministry only directed that all licence will be revalidated after development of the mining regulations, primarily based on the following criteria technical ability, financial capability, and minimum work programme
“Title holders that meet the set criteria will be allowed to continue with their activities; those that have defects will be allowed to cure the defects within stipulated period, while those that do not have business in mining in the ab ignition will have their licenses revoked”
He disclosed that the Nigeria Geological Survey (NGSA) now has a mineral occurrence database of 36 states plus the FCT and has generated a lot of products for dissemination to investors and wider public
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