Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has called on professional economic geologists in Nigeria to help find solutions to the growing problem of illegal mining and associated security challenges in the country, as reported by Punch.

The governor made this appeal during the opening of the third international conference of the Nigerian Society of Economic Geologists, held at Al-Hikmah University's auditorium in Ilorin.

Represented by the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Dr Afees Abolore, Governor AbdulRazaq described the current situation in the mining sector as a national emergency.

He urged the economic geologists to use the conference as a platform to discuss and find solutions to the huge challenge of illegal mining and security.

“Solid minerals take the centre stage in the national economic reforms,” he said.

He added: “This is why the theme of your conference, ‘Today and Future Trajectories of the Minerals Industry in Nigeria: From Exploration to Exploitation and Local Value Addition,’ especially the area that touches on local value additions, is very timely.”

AbdulRazaq, who said the government foresaw a Nigeria where the solid minerals subsector dominated the GDP through massive employment generation and wealth creation, lamented that the task was being threatened by illegal mining and security challenges.

He said Kwara State was committed to the Renewed Hope agenda of the President, “including in the solid mineral sector where we are already doing a lot.

“Very shortly, we are fully owning five Special Purpose Vehicles as provided for in the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007.

“We are open to partnership with local and international investors in this regard and other areas of the economy.

“You can’t find another state more conducive and business-friendly like Kwara, so l urge you to work with us.”

Earlier, the President of the NSEG, Dr AbdulRazaq Garba, said Nigeria is at its most critical time in terms of its mineral resources development and environmental sustainability.

Garba, who said that the country’s minerals industry holds significant promise, however, said there were challenges confronting the industry.

He listed the challenges as “regulatory complexities, infrastructural limitations, funding gaps, and the need to bridge technological advancements with our traditional practices.”

He, however, said that despite the challenges, there had been noteworthy achievements.