Nigeria set to develop 7 solid minerals

Ayodele Adesanmi, Abuja - 23.06.2008

THE Federal Government has set in motion the development of seven strategic solid minerals out of a total of over 34 solid mineral resources in the country because of their economic importance.

Towards achieving this, a committee has been set up in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to address the challenges of developing each of the minerals.

The minerals are Gold, Bitumen, Coal, Barytes, Iron-Ore, Limestone, Lead/Zinc which would contribute 85 per cent revenue from the solid minerals sector to the Gross Domestic Product while the remaining 27 would only contribute 15 per cent.