Stakeholders Task FG To Fund Solid Mineral.

| SOURCE:Leadership 

Home/Business/Commerce and Industry/ Aug 26, 2014 | Leave a comment

The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Rep. Isa Hassan, has urged the Federal Government to allocate more fund to the solid mineral sector.

Hassan made the call at the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) 2014 General Elections in Abuja on Tuesday.

Hassan said that the funding of mining sector should be taken seriously just like the oil and gas, agricultural were being funded.

He said the annual budget allocation to the sector was low compared to what was being allocated to other sectors considering its importance to the growth of the economy.

The committee chairman said concerted efforts should be made to see how the sectors budget could be increased.

We have to look inward and concentrate on solid mineral because it is the main stay of the economic.

The way forward for the sector is funding so that it could grow just like other sectors.

Necessary attention should be given to the sector for it to attain its expected status in contributing to the GDP and economic growth of the country, he said.

He said the committee was doing its best to curtail the impact of environmental hazard in the sector.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid minerals Development, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, called for a working, vibrant and committed association that could move the sector forward.

While pledging the support of the lawmakers to the sector, Adamu called for deliberate efforts from stakeholders to make mining industry contribute meaningfully to the development of the economy.

The re-elected National President of MAN, Alhaji Sani Shehu, who also advocated proper funding of the sector, said attention should be given to the development of critical area.

We are appealing to the government to give special attention to the sector and endeavour to capture it in the transformation agenda, he said.

He said the sectors that were captured or included in the transformation agenda were doing well.

The other elected officials of the association, included the Secretary, Mr Dele Ayanleke and Mr Amasi Cletus, as the public relations officer, among others. (NAN)