RMAFC chief urges focus on solid minerals to sustain economic recovery

The Acting Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr Shettima AbbaGana, has called for a sustained intervention in the solid minerals sector to enhance economic recovery and growth.

Abba-Gana made the call yesterday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He spoke on the report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that the nation had exited recession in the second quarter of 2017.

NBS had on Tuesday announced that the nation, which slipped into recession in 2016 following five consecutive quarter contraction, was out of it.

Abba-Gana said that diversification through the solid minerals sector and agriculture were the surest ways to sustain the economy.

“RMAFC has been at the fore-front of diversification, urging states and local governments to embrace it fully. The best tools of diversification for the Nigerian economy are solid minerals and agriculture.

“Solid minerals are in every state and local government, so we must rededicate our attention to it as it can create employment, boost the economy and generate revenue.

“In addition, let the state governments be interested in solid minerals in their states, because they will get 13 per cent derivation, just like those from oil producing states,’’ he said.