FG Urged to Encourage Formal Export of Mineral Resources

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce Limited (ABUCIL) has urged the federal government to encourage formal export of mineral resources through massive awareness campaign to create additional sources of revenue.

The Chamber made the call when its Vice President, Mines, Chidi Okoli, led a delegation to pay a visit to the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Mohammed Sada, in Abuja.

The Chamber also enjoined the federal government to develop a buying centre where minerals can be warehoused to enable buyers have access to such minerals without much stress.

This, the organisation said, would invariably enhance miners.

The Vice President, Mines, equally stresssed the need for the state offices of the ministry to be strengthened.

“This will make them function effectively in the various mining fields within their area of jurisdiction,” he said.

Okoli expressed

the readiness of the Chamber to collaborate with the Ministry in exposing the potential of the mining sector through exhibitions and trade missions outside the country.

He said ECOWAS had organised the setting up a regulatory body known as the ECOWAS Chambers of Mines, which was expected to take off soon.

The minister, in his response expressed his profound appreciation for the visit and said the ministry had established strong relationship with Chambers and Miners Association.

He opined that the mining sector should be the strongest arm in any Chamber of Commerce.

Sada said he was satisfied with the progress made so far in the sector, and appealed to business operators who drive the economy to try and create environment of doing businesses.

He expressed pleasure at the rebound of Tin mining which he said Nigeria used to be the highest exporter in the past.