By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Federal Government has kick started production of Salt and Kaolin in the country to boost and promote local production for use, source of export and employment for Nigerians.
To actualize this initiative, the Federal Ministry of Solid Mineral Development/ Steel Development on Tuesday at the Head Office in Abuja inaugurated a ten man committee in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda to man and enhance the local capacity of the full scale industrialization and promotion of Salt and Kanolin to add value to the nation’s solid mineral sector.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development/ Steel Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe during the inauguration at the Ministry’s head office in Abuja on Tuesday said that the initiative to explore Salt and Kanolin aligns with President Tinubu’s mantra of Renewed Hope to increase the domestic use and export and to boost employment opportunities for Nigerians.
Dr Ogbe said,” ”In order to change the narrative and kick start the development of our nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with his Renewed Hope Agenda has challenged us to believe in our country and to develop it as we do not have another country.”
”It is this consideration that is behind the strong desire of the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake to develop the exploration exploitation and processing of salt and Kaolin in Nigeria for Nigeria’s use and subsequent export. This will provide jobs for Nigerians, conserve foreign exchange and boost our economy.”
The Permanente Secretary charged the 10- man Committee with the following terms of reference to Determine the extent of deposits and locations of brine and rock salt and Kaolin in Nigeria.
‘Determine the number and viability of licenses issued for the exploration and exploitation of these minerals.”
“Determine the cost of exploration of those sites to ascertain the quantum of the existence of brine, rock salts and Kaolin before now and to find a way forward to actualizing the building of Salt and Kaolin Processing plants in Nigeria with a given time frame, and come up with ways taking proactive measures to develop the sector.
Dr Ogbe gave a timeline, on or before 30 November 2023 to the Committee for submission of its report in view of the urgency of the assignment.
In a statement signed by Head , Press/ PR of the Ministry, Alaba Balogun , made available to Daybreak today, Prof. Zachaeus Opafunsho, the Director- General/CEO of Council for Mining Engineers and Geoscientists of Nigeria will serve as Chairman of the Committe, while Mrs. Salamatu Umar, Director Special Duties Department in the Ministry is the Secretary.
