Governor Abdullahi Sule has met with the Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, where they discussed matters concerning security around mining sites as well as developing the mining sector.
Governor Sule visited the headquarters of the ministry in Abuja, in the company of Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura and state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Labaran Magaji, on Thursday.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the meeting, the Governor expressed satisfaction with the visit, adding that it afforded him to update the Minister on recent activities relating to mining in Nasarawa State, especially the progress made so far since the groundbreaking of one of the largest lithium factory in the state.
He explained that the visit equally gave him the opportunity to learn from the several trips made by the Minister to the Middle East, especially as it concerns the solid minerals sector.
Most significantly, Governor Sule said the meeting provided them the opportunity to review issues relating to security around mining sites.
” You know, recently, he visited the state to be part of the groundbreaking of one of the biggest lithium factories that will be established. I came to give him a little update about what is happening at that site.
“I also saw several visits that he has made to the Middle East, and some of them also have to do with the same solid minerals. So I also came to hear from him about the update for the development of our country.
“But most importantly, the security about these areas of mining and the rest of that. That is what brought me, and we had excellent discussions,” Governor Sule stated.
On whether his administration would consider investing in the solid minerals sector, the Governor expressed appreciation to the Minister for making it possible for Nasarawa State to obtain three mining licenses.
He said Nasarawa State will invest in the sector because the state aspires to have equity participation rather than just being carried along.
He however pointed out that the state will only participate through a PPP arrangements.
“We want to show great appreciation to the Honourable Minister because recently, Nasarawa State obtained three licenses. One is an area where there is possibility of gold deposit. Another area there is lithium deposit and we have the third site where there is tin deposit.
“We have all the three licenses. But I came from the private sector and I understand how public sector doesn’t become so efficient when it comes to management of such entities. So we have PPP arrangements, where we are going to have partners into these areas.
“We have what we call an infrastructure fund in Nasarawa State where five percent of our IGR goes straight into the fund and that is the money we use to invest. We don’t want to be a state that would just be carried along. We want to be a state that will also invest and have some equity participation,” the Governor said.
Also speaking, Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the visit provided the opportunity for Governor Sule to update him on the progress of work on the factory construction he was part of the groundbreaking ceremony.
Alake said the discussed extensively on ensuring security around mining sites, which he said underscores the security situation across the country.
“He has given me a useful update on the factory construction that we went to do the groundbreaking ceremony some two, three months back. Also, very importantly, the issue of security at the mining sites and we have discussed that extensively.
“That also underscores the security around the country generally which Mr President has be fastidious about. Even yesterday we discussed it at the FEC. There was a committee that was set up to coordinate the security around our natural resources including minerals, forest, marine economy. That committee is going to start working tomorrow.
“The Governor has been very supportive in this solid minerals sector. Not because his state is a solid minerals state. He is an engineer and a technical person who understands the dynamics of this sector, and he has been supportive,” the Minister stated.