The Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Uchechukwu Ogah, on Friday said the federal government had begun the establishment of mineral processing clusters across the six geo-political zones of the country.
Ogah, who disclosed this in Asaba, the Delta state capital, when he visited the state on a two-day working visit, solicited the collaboration of the state government in the development of the solid minerals sector.
He said the barite processing cluster for the South-south zone “is located in Cross River state,” adding that the project was conceived to fully harness the abundant barite resources in Nigeria and put an end to barite importation into the country for drilling purposes in the oil/gas industry.
“It is our belief that value addition to the mineral resources of the country would engender employment generation, wealth creation, foreign exchange saver/earner, capacity development of our youth amongst other benefits. I am here today to pay a courtesy call on His Excellency, the governor of Delta state, and to acknowledge his wonderful works in the state.
“Most importantly, it’s to ensure collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and the Delta state government to ensure that we leverage on President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to diversify the economy using minerals and agriculture,” he said.
Ogah, who embarked on a facility and held a stakeholders’ meeting, said President Buhari upon assumption of office approved the reactivation of Ajeokuta plant, adding that “everything is being done to bring it back to life.”
At the Eastern Metal Limited, a steel company at Isele-Azagba, Aniocha North local government area, the minister said the federal government was looking at other steel companies that could collaborate with Ajeokuta.
According to him, “Ajeokuta is in the process and of being revitalised; the president had the opportunity to discuss with the Russian president on what it will cost to revitalise it.”
