Joseph Erunke
02 July 2012, Sweetcrude, ABUJA—NIGERA’s federal government weekend said it was committed to ensuring that its mines and steel sector did not only become highest employer of labour but source of the nation’s revenue.
The government said many foreign investors had indicated interest to partner with the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development with a view to developing the mines and metals sector of the country’s economy.
It boasted that the number of job creation in the mines and steel sector in its current phase of employment in the industry would surpass the 350,000 it recorded in the last one year, thus contributing greatly to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.
Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mohammed Sada spoke in Abuja, during a send forth dinner organised for Alhaji Idris Kuta, Permanent Secretary in his ministry, who retired after his mandatory service in the Federal Civil Service.
The minister urged people not to take the Federal Government’s promise of turning the industry around with a pinch of salt, saying government was committed to its transformation agenda just as he said necessary machinery had been put in place towards the realisation of the set goal.
He regretted that Alhaji Idris Kuta was retiring at a time his wealth of experience was mostly needed to realise the transformation of the mines and metals sector even as he noted that God had reason for everything.
He described the retired permanent secretary, Alhaji Idris Kuta,as a pillar of the ministry, saying all achievements recorded in the last one year would not have been possible without him.
