*Photo L-R: Engr. Obadiah Simon Nkom, Director General of the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office, Abuja, presenting a letter from the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake to Governor Abdullahi A. Sule*
The 6th National Council for Mining and Mineral Resources Development Meeting coming up in November will be held in Nasarawa State.
This was disclosed by Engr. Obadiah Simon Nkom, Director General of the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office, Abuja, on Friday, when he led a delegation to the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule.
Engr. Nkom represented the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake on the trip.
The DG, on behalf of the Dr Alake used the opportunity of the visit to call for peaceful coexistence among mining firms in Nasarawa local government area of Nasarawa State.
He disclosed that Nasarawa State is rated number 4 among states generating over one billion naira to the federation allocation accruing from solid mineral royalties from mining activities.
He emphasised the importance of resolving all the standing disagreements among mining firms in the state before the commencement of the 6th National Council on mining and Mineral Resources Meeting. He praised the developmental efforts of the governor in the solid mineral sector which encourage the federal government to approve for the state the hosting right on the council meeting in November.
According to him, “Apart from the 6th upcoming national meeting, there is need to be able to look at Nasarawa State itself. Cutting across the development in the sector, you will agree with me that the governor has contributed a lot in the Renewed Hope Agenda in the mineral sector as demonstrated in the groundbreaking event of lithium processing, and the avatar new energy lithium processing plant in Nasarawa LG as the largest lithium processing factory in the world.
“No wonder, Nasarawa State assumed an investment haven for solid mineral and other businesses to thrive as a result of the business enabling climate, your administration has created from its policies and programmes.”
The DG presented a letter from the Minister, approving the allocation of 1.5 square kilometers to Nasarawa State at Ende village, Nasarawa LG. This move aims to resolve the dispute between two Chinese companies over the 3.5 square kilometers.
Responding, Governor Abdullahi Sule thanked the Minister of Solid Minerals for granting the approval of the state to host the 6th national meeting.
He said, “I understand the importance of that summit, it is going to be an engagement of stakeholders that will give opportunity for peace and security of the mining site and will also provide great opportunity for the economic development and economic empowerment of our people.”
“These are the reasons we are quick in accepting to be the host of this very important council meeting, it is a meeting that is going to draw a lot of other stakeholders, especially investors, miners and regulators who are going to be part of the event. There is no better time than now when Nigeria is looking for other resources of revenue.”
