Council urges FG to invest in mineral resources

By Toba Ajayi

Minerals

Ilorin, March 20, 2020 (NAN) Mrs Oluwafunke Adewumi, the Kwara State Coordinator, Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC), has called on the Federal Government to tap into abundant mineral resources to grow Nigeria’s economy.

Adewumi made the appeal in Ilorin on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN).

The coordinator said the Nigeria’s resources was enough to transform the country’s fortune if properly managed.

She said minerals are significant resources for human life and could significantly contribute to the economic progress of the country, if properly utilised by the government.

“Nigeria is blessed with crude oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore, tin and rare metals such as tantalum, Niobium and other rich resources.

“With the available abundant resources, we can compete with the giant nations in the world if properly utilised.

“Time for the Federal Government to set up an expert team to plan on best way to get the best of Nigeria mineral resources for use.

“Nigeria has enough talc deposits. The extraction of huge talc deposits can satisfy local and export needs. Our mineral resources is enough to end our struggle as a nation.

“Imagine crude oil provides the Lion’s share of Nigeria revenue. What are we doing with it? We need to tap into it and become the envy of the world,” she said.

The coordinator also advised members of the public to desist from wasting available resources by cutting down trees in the bush for selfish interest.

She also called on the federal government to prioritise annexing mineral resources for local use in industries and as foreign exchange. (NAN)

LEX/OSA/MST

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola