15 November 2015, Abuja – The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi , has promised that
the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government would muster the legal and political will to fight illegal miners in the country.
The ex-governor said the present Buhari-led government would not give the illegal operators any breathing space to prevent efforts being made to diversify the country’s economy from being sabotaged by economic
marauders in view of the dwindling revenues from the oil sector.
Speaking in Isan Ekiti, the Minister said the country had goodprospect in the solid minerals sector, having 44 key minerals in about 350 spots across the 36 States of the federation.
The minister said the poor management of the sector in the last 55 years of Nigeria’s Independence brought about its low contributions to the economy.
The ex-governor pointed out that the Mining and Mineral Law 2007 initiated by former Minister, Dr Oby Ezekwesili while superintending over the ministry, vividly stipulated guidelines for the operators in the sector, assuring that the law will be strategically implemented to curtail illegality.
Fayemi disclosed that the solid minerals sector contributes 0.06 % to the country’s Gross Domestic Products , stating that as much as he is not making a projection, Buhari’s government is desirous of raising the benchmark to 5 -10 % before 2019.
- This Day
