By Milcah Tanimu

Abdulsalam Abdulkarim Zaura, popularly known as AA Zaura and the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate for the Kano Central senatorial seat in the upcoming 2023 general elections, has emphasized the potential of the solid mineral sector as a crucial alternative to crude oil for Nigeria’s economic growth. Zaura, a business mogul and philanthropist with diverse experience in sectors such as Renewable Energy, Oil and Gas, Real Estate Finance, and Development, believes that the solid mineral industry could be the new economic frontier for the country.

In a conversation with journalists in Abuja on Monday, Zaura highlighted the need for the federal government to prioritize the exploration of solid minerals to diversify the nation’s revenue sources. He drew attention to the abundance of resources beyond oil, urging a shift in focus to tap into the vast potential of the solid mineral sector.

Zaura shared his own experience, stating, “I started with solid minerals; I can tell you that far back in the year 2003/2004, we did mining, and the mining we did was not gold mining; we were into tantalite and tourmaline mining.” He underscored the challenge of the country’s overreliance on oil and the need for greater attention to alternative resources.

Comparing the value of gold to oil, Zaura pointed out the economic advantages of diversifying into solid minerals. He specifically mentioned gold and emphasized that the gram price of gold surpasses the value of a barrel of oil. Encouraging a shift in focus, he stated, “We need to focus on the mineral deposits which we have in Zamfara, Niger, and other states where we have a large deposit of gold; that means we will create more income and revenue for the country.”

Addressing the issue of insecurity in regions abundant with solid mineral deposits, Zaura attributed the challenges to political factors. He stressed the importance of addressing insecurity to fully harness the economic potential of the sector. Zaura called for strong political will to tackle illegal mining activities that hinder the sector’s meaningful contribution to the nation’s revenue.

In conclusion, Zaura urged the government to create an enabling environment to attract investors to communities where solid minerals are explored. He commended the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government to revamping the solid mineral sector, expressing optimism about the positive outcomes and opportunities it could bring to the nation.