Date: 2017-11-27

A Mining Engineer, AbdulRahman Sikiru Ottan has called on the Federal Government to reconsider the thirteen percent derivation benefits given to state and local governments where mining potentials are discovered.

Engineer Ottan made the call in Ilorin , the Kwara State capital while featuring on a Radio Kwara personality interview programme "Playing Host."

The mining engineer who is the Vice President (Mines) of the KWARA Chamber of Commerce,Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KWACCIMA) noted that though, mining is on the exclusive list of the federal Government, but suggested that such stand should be down played to enhance the development of the sector.

According to him , there is the need for the Federal Government to have a geological data bank of mineral resources in the country to attract interested foreign investors.

He announced that Africa is the next destination of mining in the world and therefore pleaded with the government to harness the potentials of the sector and take it more seriously.

Engineer Ottan who is the first and only PH.D. holder in the mining industry outside academics in the country lamented that the Nigerian government had not invested much in mining as subsequent administrations had played lip services to the sector.

He urged the government involve states and local governments as well as the local communities where mines where discovered in the sharing formula derivable from the minerals discovered.

According to him, KWACCIMA had concluded arrangements to put up a position paper to the state government on the need for the government to partner with foreign or local miners on how to develop the potentials of mining which according to him, would increase the internally revenue generation of the state and create more employment opportunities.

Engineer Ottan also suggested that government to establish a mining company saddled with the responsibility of acquiring mining sites across the sixteen local government areas of the state saying that the state is endowed with abundant mineral resources.

He, however, commended the state government for creating a ministry responsible for the mining sector and stressed the need for the ministry to be well equipped in terns of capacity building to enhance the performances of the staff through training and retaining Programmes.