By Adesanya Akanbi in Ibadan
IBADAN (Sundiata Post) – Going by dwindling revenue allocations to all the states of federation, coupled with poor internally-generated revenue by most Southwest states, Southwest agency, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) has organised a roundtable dialogue centred on optimal utilisation of varied solid mineral resources abundantly sited in the six states of Southwest.
Mr. Dipo Famakinwa, director-general of DAWN) declared that it was high time governments of Southwest states explored opportunities in solid mineral resources buried in all the states located in the zone.
Famakinwa, speaking at the roundtable dialogue held in Ibadan, said the meeting would afford participants and stakeholders, drawn from all six states, opportunity to critically appraise the status of solid minerals in their region, strategise for holistic intervention in the areas of need and find dependable alternative revenue sources.
While expressing the need to create a plan of action for exploring opportunities and creating a platform for development of the solid minerals sector as means of diversifying the region’s economy for improved wealth creation and employment generation, he noted that reliance on solid mineral resources would provide better alternative to crude oil as major source of revenue.
Speaking on behalf of Ogun State Government, Bimbo Ashiru, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, sought effective partnership among Southwest state governments, saying that effective collaboration between public and private sectors would attract robust investment in solid mineral resources to the region, thereby increasing revenue to all the six states.
Ashiru said that the region would be able to drive industrialisation and create employment opportunities through its vast reserve of mineral deposits, and the sector would improve socio-economic growth of the region, adding that the states should look inward into areas where they have comparative, solid mineral resources advantage that strengthens economy of the region.
The Commissioner noted the need for the region to set up its own Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) in line with the provision of section 19 of the Mineral and Mining Act of 2007 to regularise and develop the mining sector.
According to him, the committee would assist in reducing the negative impacts of mineral exploration on human lives and environment as well as sensitising the general public and potential investors on danger of illegal, un-regularised and uncontrolled mining operations in their various states.