The Gombe state government has expressed its readiness to partner federal government and other stakeholders in mining sector in order to unlock the abundant solid mineral potentials in the state.
The State Governor Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya gave the hint on Wednesday while declaring open, a strategic roundtable on coal, metallic minerals in Gombe.
“My administration is committed to partnering with operators and other stakeholders in the mining sector to unlock and tap the endowed mineral resources in our state to enable us drive the economic diversification agenda of the state”, Yahaya said.
According to him, the two-day strategic engagement workshop on coal, industrial and metallic minerals for North east geo-political zone, organized by Gombe state government in collaboration with the the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) under the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development was aimed at educating stakeholders on how to key into opportunities and other benefits in the minerals sector.
Adding that: “it will serve as an alternative revenue earner which is in line with the shared objective of diversifying the economy through development of non oil sector”.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, Governor Yahaya noted that, as a leading commercial hub in the northeast sub region, his state is endowed with over 50 solid minerals, out of which six are industrial minerals.
The Governor who boasted that Gombe state is among the leading producers of gypsum, limestone and coal in the country, maintained that the recent discovery of hydrocarbon by NNPC in the area has further cemented Gombe status as a mineral-rich state in Nigeria.
He urged companies, investors and mining communities to work closely with the state ministry of energy and mineral resources and channel all minerals, mining and allied issues for proper guidance, regulatory compliance and documentation.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Executive Secretary, Solid Minerals Development Fund, Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi, represented by the Director, Finance and Accounts, Prince Samuel Aromolaran said the rationale behind the workshop was to bring together experts and other stakeholders in the mining sector to cross-fertilize ideas on mining operation, its economic impacts and health implication among others.
Also, the Commissioner, Ministry for Energy and Mineral Resources, Gombe State, Alhaji Shehu Ibrahim Madugu noted that the task requires broad based collaboration with stakeholders by playing their respective roles to the best of their abilities in that economic drive.
He urged participants to concentrate on mining issues for a better result at the end of the event with a view to developing ways of turning around the nation’s untapped natural resources.
