Abdul lawal
 
The All Progressives Congress Presidential aspirant, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured that he would prioritise the resuscitation of the nation’s economy through the development of the solid mineral sector, if voted as President of the country.
  
 
Tinubu, who spoke during a town hall meeting with mining and agro-processing stakeholders in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital, said solid minerals and mining would play key roles in his campaign toward prosperity and our economic offensive against poverty and underdevelopment.
   
 
He said: “Few nations are as well-endowed as Nigeria, given our industrious, energetic population and our vast inventory of land, water and natural resources. Our beloved nation has abundant, commercially viable solid mineral deposits such as coal, limestone, iron ore, bitumen, lead, zinc, gold and a variety of gemstones.
   
 
“It is the obligation of government to use these gifts wisely to benefit the nation and improve the living standards of the average Nigerian,” he said.
   
 
 Tinubu added that the sector would contribute more to the nation’s economy by building the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
   
 
“We seek to turn this economy into a more active engine of growth, productivity, jobs and income. We seek to establish a broad-based economy that ensures broadly-shared prosperity for all.
   
 
“The solid minerals sector contributed less than 1% to our GDP in 2020. We need to increase this amount every year. My administration will develop the solid minerals sector, establishing policies that will encourage investment for growth in that sector.
  
 
“My administration will ensure the full completion and operation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company under a viable Public-Private Partnership structure,” he added.
   
 
He also said his administration would enact legislative reforms and forge strategic partnerships with private sector investors with requisite skills and proven capacity to support investment in the mining sector.
   
 
On agro-processing, Tinubu added, “My government will continue the progress and, in particular, shall focus on expanding the development of agro-industry to boost domestic food production and enable our farmers and industrialists to add value to their products.
 
   
“My agricultural policy encompasses the creation of storage facilities, affordable farm loans and mortgages, creation of modern agricultural hubs in each geopolitical zone amid other measures.”
 
   
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule said Tinubu’s engagement with the mining community would also afford the opportunity to know the economic potentials of state in mining and agricultural. 
 
   
The governor listed 20 solid minerals in commercial quantity in the state which include lead, gold, Barite, mable, and zinc among