Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uche Ogah has solicited the opening of a mineral desk in the Embassy of People’s Republic of China in Nigeria to aid easy tracking and resolution of issues emanating from Chinese operators in the Nigerian Mining Sector.
According to the Minister, this will aid productivity and mutually benefit both countries.
The Minister speaking when Mr. Cui Jianchun, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, 6th July, 2021 noted that the highest investors in mining in the country are the Chinese.
ABN TV reports that the Minister however expressed dissatisfaction that most of the Chinese miners in Nigeria are illegal miners, saying, many Chinese nationals have been caught engaging in illegal mining activities.
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He therefore called for synergy in the area of combating illegal mining in Nigeria as well as solicited for support in addressing this challenge to boost bilateral relations between the two countries.
Earlier in his remarks, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite stated noted that Nigeria has always enjoyed good relationship with China.
He added that investment by China in mining would immensely be beneficial to both countries.
In his comment, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Cui Jianchun, revealed that he had been in Nigeria for 100 days.
He said it was time to leverage on the good relations China has enjoyed with Nigeria for 50 years, and deepen the partnership as there are huge potentials for Chinese investors and government in Nigeria.
Mr. Cui Jianchun expressed China’s willingness to work with Nigeria for the benefit of both countries
The amplified quest for both local and foreign investment in the mining sector in part of the Ministry’s continued efforts to ensure the delivery of its statutory and Presidential mandate to grow the sector contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), from 0.6% to 5% by year 2025.
The Ministry is working to ensure that revenue accruals from the mining sector is properly harnessed into the Federation Account for the development and benefit of Nigeria as it seeks to deepen collaboration with China and other countries to develop the sector.
