$120m grant developed solid minerals – FG

Sada

Activities of the Sustainable Management of the Mineral Resources Project (SMMRP), a World Bank funded project of the federal government, is said to have opened up the development of Nigeria’s minerals and metal sector. A statement from the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has said.

The statement quoted the Minister of Mines and Steel, Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada as saying that “The achievements recorded so far with the SMMRP project are noteworthy and commendable. The project has done quite a lot, and we will build on it, some of the activities of the project have shown us how we can move forward.”

Sada who spoke at a meeting with officials of the World Bank led by the Task Team Leader, Ekaterina Mikhaylova in his office on Friday further said that “The federal government was very proactive in addressing the issue of sustainability in the minerals and metal sector, which is one of the topmost agenda of the present administration.’’

The minister said that government was already working with the World Bank in order to ensure the continuity of the project in consolidating on what had been achieved, and added that the ministry  is mindful of other areas of the sector which the fund could not cover. ‘‘Apart from trying to build on what we have already built, we are looking at other areas including strengthening our data acquisition skills, updating the mineral title administration to be as clear as possible, updating and standardising government’s cadastre system for global acceptance, providing fund for mid-tier operators and the steel sector which was not captured when the grant was given.’’

  While expressing hope for the continuity of the project, the minister added that it would assist in the government’s determination to revive the comatose nature of the nation’s steel industry.

  Leader of the World Bank Task Team, Ekaterina Mikhaylova expressed satisfaction with the management of the grant. She said the principal objectives of the SMMRP were achieved, and added that her team is in the country to evaluate the performance of the project as well as to meet with beneficiaries of the $10 million grant disbursed to artisanal and small scale miners. She said her team will assess how much the project impacted on their livelihood.

Ekaterina who said the project would come to an end in a month’s time, expressed hope that another phase of the project would be agreed upon to sustain the gains.

  She disclosed that Nigeria had spent $119 million out of $120 million grant from the World Bank in the year 2005 to develop the mining sector.

Filed Under: Property