Nigeria’s nickel forms major discuss at Australia conference
The Federal Government has restated its support for the success of the nickel project as well as other genuine investors in the mining sector as a way of actualising its economic diversification plan.
It, however, urged investors in the sector to engage and build mutually beneficial relationships with the host communities through the state governments.
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, disclosed this in his presentation at the opening session of the Africa Down Under (ADU) Conference in Perth, Australia on Wednesday.
Fayemi spoke to a gathering of African ministers of mines and minerals, policy makers, investors, operators and mining financiers at the conference where the massive deposit of world class Nickel in Dagoma, Kaduna State and its prospect as a game changer for the Nigerian economy dominated discussions.
Speaking on the nickel deposit, reputed to be of a high grade and a “rare find” which covers about 20 kilometre square in Dagoma village, Southern Kaduna, the minister said security of the environment was one of the first major steps taken by government to ensure the success of the project.
He added that government was also collaborating with Comet Minerals Limited (which discovered mineral) on sundry aspects of the project.
Dr Fayemi said the nickel discovery could be a game changer if properly managed, adding that government would support it all through in line with the wealth creation and job creation agenda of its diversification plan.
He listed the Federal Government’s incentives for investors including tax holidays (which is renewable), duty waiver on imported the other mining equipment and 100 ownership of business concern among others.
He, however said that government would insist on best practices with emphasis on enforcement of law and order.
A Geology Professor, Lousia Lawrence, disclosed that a lot of work had gone into authenticating the high quality nickel deposit. This, she said, had further proven that the nickel deposit could be the game changer for Nigeria.