Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi, said solid mineral development was very crucial to attainment of economic growth in Nigeria.
Fayemi said this on Monday while on a familiarisation visit to the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences (NIMG), Jos.
According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has taken solid mineral development as one of its key areas of interest, with the sole aim of boosting the nation’s economy.
He explained that in the wake of dwindling oil revenue, the current administration had taken copious steps to explore other critical sectors of the country’s economic potentials.
”The role of solid mineral development in the history of our nation’s economic development can not be overemphasised.
”We have seen the damage of over relying on oil as a major source of revenue generation has done to our economy.
”This is why President Buhari is so passionate about solid mineral development; he has never hiden his views about how he wants the sector to be properly harnessed.
”He has seen the need for diversification of our revenue source and solid mineral is one key area we want to properly explore,” he said.
The Minister urged staff of the institute to rise to expectations and show more zeal towards actualisation of the mandate of the government.
He warned that any erring and non committed staff would be adequately sanctioned in case of dereliction of duties.
”Let me remind us all, that this is the era of change, and we are not just to say it, but we must be seen putting it into practice.
”The president didn’t send us to the various ministries to witch hunt anybody, but ensure things are done in a coordinated manner.
”The best way to face challenges is through performance,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of the Institute, Mr Umar Bamalli, said the rationale behind the creation of the institute was to bridge the gap between university and polytechnic graduates.
He explained that the institute was established in 2007 but started full operations in 2010 and had so far graduated 54 students with 33 currently on industrial attachment.
