Gold mining can generate over $400million annually in Zamfara state…says Gov. Matawalle
Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara state has disclosed that despite the low level of investment in the state’s mining sector, it is estimated that gold mining alone can generate over 400 million US Dollars annually in the state if tapped.
He said the state is blessed with abandoned mineral resources and called for investment during the World Business Community gathering in New York, United States of America.
Indeed, Matawalle presented the state in his speech at the Africa Investment Summit which formed part of the breakaway engagements at the just concluded 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) which drew World Leaders including President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a statement signed by the Director General Press Affairs, Yusuf Idris and made available to our reporter Thursday in Gusau, the governor informed the top World Business Class that his administration has in the last four months of its existence brought an end the decade long armed banditry activities which led to death of hundreds of citizens in the state.
“I am inviting all the World Business Tycoons to come and invest in my state Zamfara as it has widely opened its arms for all legitimate businesses”
He explained that he has established a conducive environment for business especially with the large deposits of untapped mineral resources in the largely agrarian state, adding that the state accounts for the leading position in the production of sorghum which Nigeria leads other countries by about 70 percent in the West African sub region.
He assured the business class that the state has large silos for produce storage purposes in each of its 14 local government areas.
The governor maintained that the state stands as the second largest producer of groundnut, third largest producer of cotton and second largest producer of tobacco while it also occupies leading positions in the production of food crops such as millet, maize and rice as well as cash crops like groundnut, cotton, beans, tomatoes, pepper and onions.
“Having secured an investment fund to the tune of one billion US Dollars from Afrexim Bank with which it has commenced the construction of an Airport for easy transportation especially for investors among other projects, the state is now ready to reactivate its textiles, cotton, flour and oil mills as well as other factories that ran out of production for several years as a result of the nation’s energy crisis at the beginning of the millennium.
“Although the federal government controls solid minerals deposits in the country, the state which has over 50 percent of the 34 minerals catalogued by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development can in collaboration with traditional rulers provide an enabling environment for mining purposes” Matawalle said.
