Stories by Francis Adinoyi Kadiri
Abuja
The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has promised to ensure that the potentials of the Nigerian solid minerals sector are fully realized in the interest of bettering the lives of Nigerians, a statement from the Ministry of Solid Minerals has said.
The statement which was signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Mr Ambrose Momoh quoted the Minister as saying that president Buhari has burning passion for the development of the country’s solid minerals sector.
Fayemi who assumed office as Minister alongside his Minister of State, Abubakar Bawa Bwari said the administration will ensure that the country’s enormous wealth of solid minerals will be harnessed and deployed in the interest of national development.
“The Buhari administration will harness the country’s non-oil products to rescue the economy from its current economic challenges,” he said, adding he is determined to realize president Buhari’s vision of transforming the solid minerals sector by turning its potentials into concrete reality.
It could be recalled that Dr. Kayode Fayemi on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 assumed office as the Honourable Minister for Solid Minerals at the Ministry’s Headquarters, Wuse II, Abuja, after being sworn-in by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House.
The Minister was accompanied by the Minister of State, Abubakar Bawa Bwari and the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Musa Istifanus .
They were received by the most senior Director in the Ministry, the Director of Human Resource Management, Mr. Samuel Funsho Olawole along with other top management staff.
He solicited the cooperation and support of both management and staff to jointly realize the objectives and programmes of Mr. President.
The Minister of State for Solid Minerals, Abubakar Bawa Bwari, equally expressed their readiness to deliver on the mandates given to them by president Buhari.
Earlier, the newly appointed Permanent Secretary for the Ministry, Mr. Musa Istifanus, who was a former Director of Finance and Accounts with the ministry, briefed the minister on the existence of a Road Map prepared for the sector which he said had not been implemented. He also said specific mineral resources are available in virtually all the local government areas in the country. The Permanent Secretary stressed the need to resuscitate Ajaokuta Steel Company ASCO, stating that the resuscitation of ASCO will boost Nigeria’s steel production capacity while also serving as source of revenue generation and job creation.
