A Nigerian mining engineer based in South Africa, Mr Sulaiman Lawal, says Nigerians have the potentials to develop the solid minerals sector of the economy.
Lawal, a former staff of SASOL, a South African petro-chemical company, told newsmen  recently in Johannesburg, South Africa, that the Federal Government must create a platform to support Nigerian entrepreneurs to develop the sector.
“ The challenge is we can do a lot of talking, but we must take steps and initiatives to support Nigerian entrepreneurs interested in developing solid minerals.
“ We must encourage the banks to support Nigerians that are interested in going into mining.
“ If the Nigerian Government is serious about developing the solid minerals sector or reactivating mining, we need to have a platform to drive it.
“ For instance, we can learn from the South African Government experience where their Industrial Development Corporation is providing financial support to entrepreneurs in the mining sector,“ he said.
Lawal, presently the Chief Executive of Bida Investment and Resources Management, said Nigeria could boost mining by replicating such initiatives ,’’ he said.
He said while Nigeria had enough solid minerals reserve, there was a dearth of funds for exploration to determine the quality and quantity of the resource in order to ascertain real value.
“ We need to look at our approach to the solid minerals sector. A lot of Nigerians have got prospecting rights but lack money to develop it.
“ There must be that partnership, encouraging Nigerians with the prospecting rights, partnering with investors with the money.
“ By investors, we do not necessarily mean foreign investors, there is money within Nigeria. We should encourage Nigerians with the money to put it into the mining sector,“ he said.
Lawal commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving licences for 65 mini refineries to address fuel shortage in the country.