Ministry To Install Automated Device To Verify Minerals – Kayode Fayemi

Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, says the ministry is planning to install automated device to enable investors verify minerals available in Nigeria.

Fayemi made this known at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.

He said that the device would enable both local and foreign mining investor to verify types of minerals, locations and quantity.

“The automated device will help, especially the foreign mining investors, to search and get first hand information of minerals available or if already occupied by another miner,’’ he said.

According to him, the ministry is working out modality to establish Mining Cadestre Office in the six geo-political zones for easy issuance of licence and to verify activities of licensees.

“The states are agitating for licence offices, it is our vision to have cadastre offices in the six zones, but all of these have to do with funding and institutional framework.’’

He, however, said the ministry had also commenced census of informal miners across the country to know their numbers and to encourage them to form cooperatives to enable government to support them.

“Enumeration of people that considered themselves as miners without licence is ongoing in all the states to know the numbers of people we are to assist.

“We know that not all of them will register; we are working with all the states to develop database to register artisanal miners.’’

On the establishment of Mining Desk in all banks, he said the plan would help to move the sector forward and boost the Gross Domestic Products (GDP).

“We want to establish mining desk, just the way agriculture has desks in all banks; banks have head of agriculture, oil and gas.’’