The National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Iyalode Alaba Lawson, has expressed delight and support for the establishment of a Gold Refinery in Ogun State as recently announced.
According to the NACCIMA President, this development is indeed a major step in Nigeria’s quest for the diversification of the nation’s economy through increased attention to the mining sector and harnessing Nigeria’s vast solid mineral deposits as envisioned under the 2016 Road Map for the Growth and Development of the Mineral Industry.
She drew attention to the vast mineral deposits across the country which if fully harnessed can make significant contributions to the Nation’s GDP.
Also, she stated that the foundation laying ceremony of the Gold Refinery was a step in the right direction and a practical demonstration of the commitment of Government to its mining sector policy.
NACCIMA President noted that Gold was one of the seven priority minerals under the new Mining Road Map and the refinery was a good example of the beneficiation of solid minerals as envisioned under the Road Map.
According to Iyalode Alaba Lawson, it was instructive that the new Gold refinery will provide jobs for around 500,000 people and will source gold from goldfields across the country such as Zamfara, Kebbi, Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Ibadan, Ile-Ife, Ilesha etc.
She concluded that it was a demonstration of the capacity of the private sector to perform in the practical implementation of the Mining Roadmap. She called for similar action for other priority minerals such as Iron Ore, Barite, Lead and Zinc, among others, in the quest to increase the contribution of the Mining Sector to GDP, provide employment to the immediate community and develop infrastructure.
The NACCIMA National President called on government to provide more opportunities for the private sector to be part of the mining sector to ensure shared Prosperity.
