The World Bank and four other Nigerian banks have donated $14 million (N1.6 billion) to the Federal Government for the strengthening of the nation’s artisanal mining sector.

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Sarafa Isola said this in Sokoto, when he paid a courtesy call on the Sokoto State acting Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Salame.

He said the World Bank donated $10 million (N1.1 billion), while each of the four Nigerian banks doled out $1 million (N116 million).

He said the money would be used to develop the artisanal mining sector.
“It will be reorganised to form cooperatives hence the need for adequate funding. This would help in reinvigorating it”, he said.

Isola decried the lack of essential facilities and funding in the sector, which he said has slowed down its development.

He said the new national solid minerals and metals development policy, approved last February by President Umaru Yar’Adua, would be launched on April 29 by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.

The Minister, who was accompanied the Minister of State, Alhaji Ahmed Gusau, also said minerals resources committees would soon be formed in each state.

“Such committees would be chaired by people who are apolitical and diligent”, Isola said. The Minister said the new policy recognised the role traditional rulers and communities could play in ensuring proper exploration of mineral deposits across the country.

“We want to ensure mutual relationship between the communities and the mineral title holders. This synergy is very important to ensure the orderly development of the sector”, he said.

Responding, the Acting Governor, welcomed the formulation of the new mining policy by the Federal Government. Salame said the involvement of traditional rulers and communities in the exploitation of the nation’s mineral resources would ensure the full utilisation of our natural resources.

He said state government would continue to partner with the Ministry, to exploit the abundant mineral resources in the state.

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