The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited (ABUCCI) has called on the Federal Government to give priority to the mining sector in the quest to diversify the nation’s economy.
The President of the chamber, Mr Tony Ejinkeonye, made the call in interview with newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
Ejinkeonye said over the years, successive administrations had not given adequate attention to the sector, which he said, had great potential and opportunities.
He said if fully maximise, the sector could generate huge revenue for government, adding that non-development of the sector contributed to the high rate of poverty in various communities in the country.
Ejinkeonye said currently, only a few companies in the country were involved in gold mining in spite of the nation’s impressive record of mining gold in the past.
He said lack of information and records of gold deposits were partly responsible for dearth of investors in gold mining, noting that the poor record was a challenge to the sector.
He advised government at all levels to make the development of the mining sector cardinal policy of their administration.
The ABUCCI president said that for the country to grow rapidly and have visible development, the issue of diversifying from crude oil to non-oil sectors must be given priority.
Ejinkeonye expressed worries over the low contribution of mining sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
“Imagine mining activities contributing or accounting for just 0.3 per cent of the nation’s GDP, this does not speak well for a nation that wants to liberate its people from poverty and unemployment.
“It is time to make available information and design well articulated policies such as external trade and investment guarantee policy on mining activities in the country.