President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed pride over Governor David Umahi’s investment in the solid mineral sector, describing it as fully in tandem with the economic diversification policy of the Federal Government.
The President spoke on Thursday in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State when he performed the ground breaking ceremony for a combined Lead, Zinc and Copper processing plant sited in the area by the State Government.
Buhari, represented at the event by the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Abubarkar Bwari, described Umahi as a development conscious leader, not given to political and selfish ambition, but committed to the overall well-being of the people.
He noted that the project would bring tremendous employment and development to the community, State and country in general, adding that it should serve a model for other Governors.
He said such an action by the Governor was necessary to save thousands of Nigerian youths slaving abroad and others perishing on daily basis in a bid to cross through the Mediterranean route to foreign countries in search for greener pastures.
He said: “I am so much delighted to be here, not just to celebrate, but to mark this event that is historic.
“What we are here to perform is something that is dare to this community and something that is dare to our diversification agenda.
“What we are doing today here further goes to underscore what President Muhammadu Buhari is doing for our country.
“For us, for the Minister of Agriculture to be here and that of Mines and Steel…. as you all know, the key ministries for our diversification is Agriculture and Solid minerals.
“So, for us, Nigeria is here.
“Today, what we are doing is part of the developmental goals your dear Governor has set out to achieve.
“We are always proud of him and the quarrel we always have with him has to do with development.
“So it is a healthy quarrel.
“Anytime we meet, he doesn’t discuss politics but ‘development for my people, my people, my people….’
“So what we are witnessing today is something remarkable, something that would go a long way to write his name, this time, not in Lead but in Gold.
“What we are doing here today is something that we are proud of.
“It’s something that the President is proud of, something the Governor has not hidden from us that he is proud of, and something that would go a long way in transforming this community and that is our major agenda.
“We want our youths to get involved.
“We can’t continue to allow our youths to die in the desert trying to cross the Mediterranean.
“The solution is here.
“We have the resources and the political will is there
“We have a Governor here that is translating these potentials to reality.
“All we will continue to do is to pray for peace and harmony that will enable us have an environment that we can do our activities in agriculture and other sectors.”
The President further assured of the Federal Government’s support to the success of the project as well as ensure that the company adhered to all required safety and environmental standards.
Governor Umahi appreciated President Buhari for all his assistance to the State in the area of Agriculture.
He noted that Ebonyi State was blessed with numerous solid mineral deposit but regretted that its input to the State’s revenue has been very negligible in spite of environmental degradations emanating from activities of both licensed and other miners.
He appealed to the President to help ensure that all mining companies pay the appropriate royalties and revenue due to the State as they continue their businesses in the State.
The Governor also indicated that another of such plant would be established in the Northern Zone of the State to harness the solid mineral deposits scattered across the area.
He thanked President Buhari for availing the State the privilege of hosting two of his Ministers at this critical season.
The Managing Director and Chief Executives of China Tongyi Group Limited handling the project, represented by its head of Corporate Communication, Aisha Jiang, said the project would be ready for operations by April 2019.
According to Jiang, the company was satisfied with the quantity and quality of the solid mineral deposits in the State that motivated it to embark on the project, which discussion with the State commenced in 2017.
She further explained that the project encompasses three major industrial stages: mining, processing and refining, adding that the plant may be the first Lead and Zinc refining factory in Nigeria.
While soliciting the support of the Government, the Minister and the host community in the execution of the project, sited on a 50 hectare land space, she maintained that the event marked a new dawn in the solid mineral sector development in Ebonyi State.
She applauded Governor Umahi’s political will and determination to develop the mineral endowments of the State.
Others who spoke during the event, including the State Commissioner for Solid minerals, Engr. Francis Orji, and the South-East zonal Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Austin Umahi, said the initiative has further brought to the fore Umahi’s industrial revolutionary spirit and his zeal to place Ebonyi State on the pedestal of economic growth and development.
The event was also graced by the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh.