The Mining and Metals sector can easily become the largest employer of
labour, the minister of Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bawa Bwari
has said.
This was contained in the ministers speech at the
ground breaking an foundation laying ceremony of Lead and Zinc
processing plant in Tongyi, Ebonyi state yesterday.
“According to
the National Bureau of Statistics, the Mining and Metals sector can
easily become the largest employer of labour, since mineral deposits
occur in virtually every part of Nigeria,”the minister said.
He
however said for this to happen government must develop the downstream
sector through beneficiation in order to increase profits dramatically,
and provide more opportunities for employment in mining sites all over
the country.
“We are therefore laying emphasis on
industrialisation of mining processes as recommended by the African
Mining Vision (AMV) whose Roadmap was adopted by the African heads of
state in 2009.”
The minister said most of the revenue derived
from the sector are through royalties and foreign exchange earnings from
the exportation of our mineral resources. He said Tongyi remains one of
the foremost exporters of lead zinc in Nigeria, which makes their
desire to set up this Concentrate Plant most welcoming.
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