By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN, through the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, MMSD, has Inaugurated a Kaolin Ore Processing Plant at Alkaleri in Gwaram Local Government of Bauchi State, a statement from the ministry yesterday said.
Commissioning the project on Tuesday 16th May, 2023 the Minister, MMSD, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite, called for involvement of critical stakeholders in proper utilisation of the versed mineral potentials for job an wealth creation towards improved national GDP.
While acknowledging the diversification efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration to change the narrative of the nation’s economy, he emphasised that the newly built Kaolin Ore Processing Plant signifies a departure from export of raw materials to export of processed materials, which is where the profits lie in value addition.
On her part, the Permanent Secretary, MMSD, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, who expressed delight at the commissioning of Industrial plant, gave an assurance that the ministry would continue to work for the development of the sector in the interest of national growth.
In his goodwill message at the occasion, the Acting President of Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Alhaji Musa Muhammed, who was represented by the National Treasurer, Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), Mr Bello Galoji, commended the cluster development project and the efforts of the ministry under the current leadership in developing the downstream value chain of the solid mineral sector to fast track the economic agenda of the present Administration.
He opined that the Kaolin industrial cluster be sustained in the state as there are over 20 documented Kaolin Mining sites in Alkaleri and Kirfi local governments with over 8 companies having titles to operate. The State, he said has over 20 Small and Medium Kaolin milling plant registered under Bauchi Kaolin Millers Cooperative Society, who are ever ready to collaborate with this monumental project.
The MAN’s helmsman, however, solicited for more intervention in the areas of equipment leasing facilities to improve the operations of the Artisanal Small Scale Miners, so as to increase the volume of trade in established clusters.
In her contribution, the National President, Women in Mining in Nigeria, Hon. Engr Janet Adeyemi, who was represented by Mrs Piwuna confidently noted that the establishment of the industrial Plant in Alkaleri portends well for the economy of Bauchi State and the entire nation.
