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Airborne
geophysical data has been identified as a solid foundation
for investment in the mining sector of the nation’s economy.
This hint was dropped by the Honourable Minister of Mines
and Steel Development, Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada while
briefing journalists on the Airborne Geophysics of the
Niger- Delta Region in Abuja.
The Minister said two phases (Phase 1 and 11) of the
Airborne Geophysical Data so far presented both at local and
international fora were well received by the mining world
and had generated tremendous increase in investor’s
confidence in the Nigeria Mining sector.
The Minister said “Following the launching of the products
of the airborne surveys, there has been a remarkable upsurge
in the demand for these data by investors. There has also
been astronomical increase in the number of investors
seeking to invest in Nigeria. Recent studies show that in
order of importance, major and minor mining companies rank
availability of good quality geological information,
particularly geophysics, as one of the three most important
preconditions for their entry into a new country or region”
He explained that over 3000 exploration licenses have been
granted during the period while over 9000 mining titles
applications have been processed, this he said has attracted
a number of major and junior mining companies such as the
Canadian firm, ERIN, Savannah Gold, Ecophenix and a host of
others to mining exploration in various parts of the
country.
Arc. Sada cited a remarkable case study of the Canadian
firm, the GCA that has announced a major Gold filed in
IIesha, Osun State of Nigeria.
The Minister also disclosed that the last phase of the
Airborne Geophysics involves the Niger Delta region which
accounts for 4 percent of the country’s land space.
Arc. Sada explained that the uniqueness of the region in
terms of its peculiar geological setting called for a need
to modify the geological parameters that were applied in
previous airborne geophysics of Phase 1 and 11 Data.
He added that the data being collected in Niger/Delta region
are magnetic and gravity with 18,994 lines kilometers data
of magnetic and18, 994 line kilometer of magnetic and
gravity.
He disclosed that the data being collected are critical
exploration data in oil and gas which are the main resources
of the region and over 65 percent of magnetic and 45 percent
of gravity have been achieved.
The Minister gave the assurance that with the completion of
the airborne geophysics of the Niger Delta region, the
entire Nigeria land mass would have been 100 percent covered
placing the country ahead of any other country in Africa
and most of the countries of the world in geophysical
coverage.
The Governor also requested that
more indigenes of Plateau State
be given employment opportunities in
the Ministry’s agencies in the
State.
Arc. Sada also reiterated the present administration’s
initiatives at formulating policies that would stand the
test of time at ensuring the robustness of the sector
through the provision of a competitive fiscal and regulatory
framework, institutional development, capacity building and
the generation of reliable geo-scientific data.
He added that with the Sustainable Management of Mineral
Resources Project of the World Bank, the Ministry is
providing grants to the lower end of the Artisanal and Small
Scale Mining (ASM) in which over forty cooperatives and
communities have benefited from the scheme while over one
hundred applications are being processed.
Part of the highlights of the occasion was the presentation
of deliverables on the Nigeria Airborne Geophysical Data to
the Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development by
the Project Coordinator of the Sustainable Management of
Mineral Resources Project of the World Bank, Mr. Linus Adie.
Present at the occasion were the Permanent Secretary of the
Ministry, Engr. Musa Sheik Goni, Directors in the Ministry
and the Directors General of Parastatals of the Ministry.
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