Daniel Terungwa
– others to come up soon in 6 geopolitical zones
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc Olamilekan Adegbite, has assured the completion of Kano Gold Souk in 2022.
He made this known recently in Kano while inspecting the construction of the Gold Souk in the Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State.
Arc Adegbite maintained that the establishment of a gold souk is part of the current administration’s efforts to establish strategic artisanal and small-scale mining clusters in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country in order to harness the potential of the Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners, ASMs, and other operators in the country.
He said when completed, the facility would compete with other Gold Souks in the world.
The minister who was accompanied on the inspection by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, and the Director Artisanal and Small-Scale Miner (ASM), Patrick Ojeka, expressed satisfaction with the level of work done after the groundbreaking ceremony.
“We want our gold in Nigeria to be enhanced here, we add value, create jobs for our people as well as generate revenue for the government.
“It is important that we add value to our gold instead of taking it out in the raw form, we will make jewellery such as bangles, wristwatches, necklaces and so on and then people will know that there is a Souk in Nigeria where they can visit and buy just like in another part of the world,” he emphasised.
The permanent secretary in the ministry, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, had earlier stated that the ministry is putting effort within its mandate to support and add value to ASMs.
Akinlade also disclosed that the Federal Government approved the establishment of gold clusters within the six geopolitical zones with the aim of harnessing and developing other minerals, with which each zone has a comparative advantage.
“These zones and the minerals being developed include Kaolin in the North East Zone (Bauchi), Gold Processing Plant in North Central Zone (Kogi), Lead/Zinc in the South East (Ebonyi) and Barite in the South-South (Cross River).
“Others are, the establishment of a Gemstone Market in the South West (Oyo) and Gold Souk in the North West Zone (Kano)”, she said.
