Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bawa Bwari has said the Federal Government in its determination to boost the country’s economy invested in solid minerals to save the sector from collapse.
He said this yesterday while receiving a team of bitumen investors from the United Kingdom (UK), led by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lakel Group, Dr. Lawrence Ajayi in Abuja.
He added that since the 1970s, no government has shown much interest, vigour and commitment to the development of the metals and mineral sector like the present administration.
“Before we came on board, the mining industry had collapsed due to neglect and poor funding because exploration was left in the hands of artisanal, which rendered the sector comatose.
Bwari also explained that government’s diversification drive through solid minerals, was aimed at ending the over reliance on oil and gas, noting that it has changed investors’ perception of Nigeria as a mining country.
“For the three years, government has been tackling a number of issues, which stifled the growth of mining and now the interest in the mining landscape has grown tremendously,” he said.