Sokoto state Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has disclosed that his state too is rich in gold and hydrocarbon deposits.
He stated this while welcoming the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Mr Okechukwu Samson Oga who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Sokoto on Thursday.
According to Tambuwal, the state also has so many minerals to showcase and use to attract investors.
This was contained in a statement released by Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Muhammad Bello.
Governor Tambuwal said administration was committed to supporting President Muhammadu’s drive to diversify the economy of the nation.
The Governor assured that his government would support the policy drive of the apex government for the development of solid minerals, mines and steel as well as agriculture.
“Tambuwal said 85% of the people in the state are into agriculture in one way or the other, while virtually all of the landmarks are arable, thus making the state capable of producing both subsistence and cash crops for food security and revenue generation respectively.
“He said the state had been developing and benefitting from the proceeds of solid minerals exploitation in the past 50 years since the establishment of Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, which is now BUA Cement.
“On the state’s partnership with Office Chérifien des Phosphates, OCP Morocco, the governor said he has contacted the management which assured him that they have already signed the contract for the commencement of civil works in Sokoto.
“The Governor who explained that the delay in the take-off of the project was as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic across the globe, said that the company have assured him that very soon they will be in Sokoto to flag-off the construction of its factory” the statement said.
Governor Tambuwal explained that when completed, the project would “enhance the economy base of Sokoto, which has the highest deposit of phosphate, and Nigeria in general.”
He added that his government had employed the service of consultants to fast track the setting up mining industry in the state, adding that the process had gone far.
In his address, earlier, the Minister said they were in the state for sensitization on solid minerals exploration and exploitation for economic development, stressing that harnessing the resources that abound in the sector would lay a sustainable foundation for the industrialization of the nation.
Mr Oga added that the collaboration of the federal, state, local governments as well as community leaders would be imperative for smooth mining operations.
He stated that the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel was already promoting the mineral potential of Sokoto state and various investors had expressed willingness to invest in the state.
The Minister assured that the state government could enjoy the 13% derivation from the solid mineral revenue, adding that the more revenue generation there is, the more that would accrue to the state from the derivation from the federation account.
The minister sought a stronger partnership with the state government on its sensitization drive on the constitutional role of the Federal Government with respect to mining.
