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‘Mining Sector Can Contribute 10% To GDP In 2020’

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12 years ago

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Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Taiye Haruna (left), and the Minister, Mrs Lawrencia Labaran-Mallam, during the minister's assumption of duty in Abuja last Thursday. Photo: NAN

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Taiye Haruna (left), and the Minister, Mrs Lawrencia Labaran-Mallam, during the minister’s assumption of duty in Abuja last Thursday. Photo: NAN

The Progressive Miners Empowerment Association (PMEA), has said that the mining sector could contribute 10 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2020.
President of the association, Mr Sunday Okonzie, said this in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.
Okonzie described the Federal Government’s strategies to develop the mining sector between 2014 and 2020 as good and pragmatic, saying the plans were achievable, if there was the political will.
He said that the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development had established some targets to begin the mining of copper and bauxite in the country.
The president said it was projected at creating three million jobs in the mining sector in 2014.
He said that other targets of the ministry included increasing the mining sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP from 0.4 per cent to 10 per cent.
According to him, the ministry has also commissioned the production of geological maps covering the entire country by 2020.
Okonzie said that the steel sector is expected to produce three million ton of liquid steel per annum by 2015 and 12.2 million ton per annum by 2020.
The president said that the PMEA had produced a project model that would stimulate development of the solid minerals sector.
“I think that the target of developing the solid minerals sector by 2014 and beyond is achievable, if the government matches its words with actions.
“Everybody is aware of the fact that Nigeria is endowed in terms of solid mineral resources. The problem has been how to harness these potential,” he added.
He said that in 2009, he came up with scientific study indicating that about two million jobs could be created in the sector.
“But the ministry’s officials at that time, laughed at me, but I am happy now that the Federal Government is surpassing my target of two million jobs.
“I stand by the creation of two million jobs in 2014, if all the parameters submitted to the government are considered.
“My emphasis as an operator and as someone who has put up 24 years into mining activities has always been ‘when we speak, let us work the talk’.
“If we work the talks, all of these aspirations are achievable; but the major impediment to the development of mining sector is lack of political will,” he emphasised.
He reiterated that if right things were done all the challenges facing the country’s solid mineral development would be overcome.

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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1 day ago

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September 22, 2025

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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September 22, 2025

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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1 day ago

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September 22, 2025

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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