Stakeholders in the mining sector in Bauchi State have called on the Ministry of Mining and Still Development to consider including Bauchi among gold producing States in Nigeria.
A conglomerate of miners associations in Bauchi State made the call on Thursday during an interactive session with Dr. Uchechukwu Oga, minister of state for mines and still development.
Musa Santuraki Pali, Chairman, Miners Association of Nigeria, Bauchi State Chapter regretted that although Bauchi State has in abundance deposits of gold in many of its LGAs, it was yet to be captured among gold producing States in Nigeria.
Santuraki said the setback may pose challenges for miners trying to venture into gold mining, calling on the minister to consider capturing Bauchi among the seven gold producing States in Nigeria.
The Chairman who said part of the association’s mission was to compliment government in the areas of job creation said mining activities are capital intensive, “and requires sustainable cash flow.”
He called on the Ministry to provide the needed financial and logistical support to miners to enable them maximize the sector.
Responding, the minister of state for mines and still development, Dr. Uchechukwu Oga assured that Bauchi State will soon be captured among gold producing States in Nigeria.
He said inclusion of states among gold producing States by the ministry was usually done in batches, therefore no state would be left out if certified worthy by the ministry.
The minister assured stakeholders in the mining sector that the federal government was ready to support laudable initiatives that will develop the sector.
“Before the advent of this administration, there was nothing like gold mining in Nigeria, no body thought of tapping from the sector to diversify our economy.
“The discussion then was how do we share oil money, but today, President Buhari has shown commitment to tap from the abundance of the natural resources that we have in order to diversify our economy”, the minister added.
He called on all stakeholders in the sector to continue to partner in developing mining in Nigeria.
