The government of Cross River state has donated five hectares of land to the federal government for the establishment of an Artisanal and Small-Scale Mineral processing cluster for barite.
Speaking in Calabar, Monday, while officially handing over documents of the said landed property to the Minister of State for Mineral and Steel Development, Dr Uchechukwu Ogah, Governor Ben Ayade said the state would begin to benefit from 13 percent derivation from solid minerals since it is not benefitting from oil derivation.
“We thank the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development for not allowing sentiment and politics to influence the siting of this project. As we don’t have oil, God has blessed us with solid minerals.
“With this project sited here, I know that apart from job creation for our youths, we will start benefitting from from 13 percent derivation from did minerals,” the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Prof Ivara Esu, said.
Speaking earlier, Dr Ogah said instead of exporting barite which he said was one of the key minerals in crude oil extraction and production, the project was meant to ensure barite is locally processed.
“The potentials we have in this project is so enormous that it will benefit the entire nation and even other African countries. The development of artisanal and small-scale mineral processing cluster project is an initiative of the federal government in swift reponse to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that has been ravaging the world over.
“The overarching goal of the project is to spur and ensure sustainable growth of socio-economic activities across the sub economic sectors of the nation. In the minerals sector, we are focused
on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) activities which constitute over 90 percent of the mining industry in Nigeria,” he stated.
He enumerated other benefits of the project to include “increased mineral production and revenue generations; Enhanced safer mining practices, development of downstream mineral value chain; and job creation.”
The minister explained further that “Under the project, the federal government intends to embark on infrastructural development within the cluster area – namely, a barite processing plant, mining equipment leasing bay, training centre, warehouse, office complex, amongst other amenities.”
