O’seun Odewale, the Technical Adviser to the Minister of Mines and Steel, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has stated that the ministry has been making steady progress in the provision of jobs for the youths in the sector as promised by the All Progressives Congress government.
Odewale stated this during the media immersion workshop for journalists, with the theme: “On the Road to shared mining prosperity….Emphasizing Excellence in mining sector.”
He said the mining sector is plagued with a lot of problems that have affected its performance before now.
Odewale, who lamented the fact that the country lacks a proper railway system, with railway as the best and most suitable means of transporting minerals, said it becomes problematic for the sector to move solid materials easily from one place to another.
While commenting on the problem of the Land Use Act, Odewale lamented that some governors can invoke their powers and thus have the right of ownership of a particular mineral deposit in their domain.
He also stated no large scale mechanic production can produce massive jobs for people, citing other problems militating against the growth of the sector to include security agencies, geological survey agencies, the export promotion council, electricity, water and multiple taxation
Odewale further revealed that despite the enormous problems militating against the efficient operation of the ministry, it has improved its contributions in terms of royalties from N700 million per annum to N2 billion.
He enumerated the things that must be done to facilitate a smooth running of the industry to include finalizing market and technical diagnostics, formalizing artisanal and small scale minors, finalizing privatization exercise and stakeholders’ communication.
The Eagle Online reports that when Fayemi was sworn in by President Muhammad Buhari, he was given the mandate to create jobs for young Nigerians, scale up operations and create wealth and improve economic activities.
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