INVEST IN MECHANIZED MINING TO REDUCE NIGER RELIANCE ON FAAC, MINERS ASSOCIATION TELLS BAGO
The Chairman of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Niger State chapter, Abdulrazak Mohammed Yusuf, has urged the Niger State Government to invest in mechanised mining and introduce policies that would boost the sector, saying it has the capacity to transform the state’s economy and reduce dependence on allocations from the Federation Account.
Abdulrazak made the call during a chat with journalists in Minna, stressing that proper harnessing of the abundant mineral resources in the state could drive economic growth and accelerate development.
According to him, about 90 per cent of those involved in mining activities in Niger State are artisanal and small-scale miners, who would be able to increase production significantly if provided with modern equipment.
“By the time Niger State invests heavily in mechanised mining, the artisanal and small-scale miners who constitute 90 per cent of those engaging in mining activities in the state will have the opportunity to mine larger quantities of minerals. This will be of enormous value to the development of the state economy,” he said.
He explained that transitioning from artisanal to mechanised mining would require heavy equipment such as bulldozers, excavators, dredgers and compressors for blasting and opening up mining sites.
Abdulrazak noted that Niger State possesses experienced professionals and technical expertise in the sector but lacks the financial capacity needed to operate on a large scale.
“We have the knowledge, we have the experience and professionals in the sector, but we lack funding,” he said.
He lamented that about 80 per cent of mining activities in Nigeria are still carried out manually, attributing the situation to inadequate access to capital.
“Capital has always been the main challenge because you must own at least four to five excavators and two to three bulldozers, among other equipment, to start mechanised mining,” he added.
Chairman, M.A.N Niger State Chapter
The MAN chairman called on the administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago to support miners through funding and enabling policies, noting that a vibrant mining sector would position Niger State as a major supplier of industrial raw materials sourced locally.
He maintained that with adequate investment and government backing, the sector could emerge as a major contributor to internally generated revenue and create employment opportunities for thousands of residents.
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