Mining: FG Assures NIMG of Government’s Support
The Permanent Secretary, Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Abdulkadir Mu’azu has assured the management and staff of Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences (NIMG), Jos of government commitment to assist the Institute to succeed.
He gave this assurance during his tour of the Institute in Jos, Plateau State.
Dr. Mu’azu said there is a new focus on the mining sector as an important frontier for the diversification agenda. He said Nigeria has discovered that it is unsustainable for any country to rely on one product for its sustenance and as the main source of foreign exchange.
In diversifying the economy, he said the sector is key and that for the sector to contribute, it is important to develop Institutions. He implores the leadership of the Institute to ensure development of the institutions which is human capital. “Being an academy for training, it is important to remember that we need to develop the institutions, when we talk of the institutions, we are not talking only of the infrastructure but development of the human capital without which you cannot successfully and effectively achieve the mandate,” he emphasized.
He assured them that the Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development is committed to ensuring that the Ministry assist the Institute, “I hope that we will also strive to assist ourselves, explore all the opportunities of ensuring that we generate revenue, we utilize public resources more efficiently and prudently and that everyone of us perform his or her responsibility”.
The Permanent Secretary reminded them that it is impossible for any government institution to get adequate funding from the federal budget, he therefore charged the institute to be innovative and develop those initiative that can help the institution to sustains itself.
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He advised them to develop an effective development strategy and action plan to ensure achievement of its mandate while assuring them of the government’s immediate actions in areas where urgent attention is needed.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General of the Institute, Engr. Suleiman Bolaji Hassan said the training by NIMG is aimed at bridging the existing gap between the requirement of the Nigerian Mining Industry and training currently being offered by the conventional and Polytechnics in the Country.
Engr. Hassan said NIMG is presently the leading laboratory in the country in solid minerals analysis which include Tantalite, Columbite, Wolframite, Cassiterite, Clays, Limestone, Talc, Baryte, Gold and Bismuth minerals amongst others.
“Our analysis results are highly accurate and compares favourably with results from acclaimed International Laboratories in Europe and America.. The numerous customers we have all over the country and beyond, most of whom are major exporters of solid minerals reflects our credibility,” he affirmed.
He appealed to the Ministry and Federal Government to come to their aid in areas of infrastructure and budgetary allocation. He decried insufficient allocation to the Institute as he said the budgetary allocation in both capital and overhead for the three (3) campuses of the Institute is grossly inadequate to cope with the needs of each of the campus.
The DG drew the attention of the Permanent Secretary to the NIMG Bill which is the enabling law of the institute passed into law on 12th July, 2018. He appealed for continuous supports of the Ministry to ensure that the President assent to the Bill.
He believed that the President’s assent would make NIMG full fletch Institute and encouraged the Institute to expand its academic and research programmes by attracting high level of professionals and collaborating with several agencies locally and internationally to achieve its mandate.
The Permanent Secretary during the tour, visited the Mining Community Resource Centre (MCRC) in the Tudun Wada campus and the Institute’s permanent site situated along Miango Road, Jos.
Idowu Jokpeyibo
