From Ali Muhammad Rabiu (Kwara)
Federal government has embarked on a multi-million naira mining exploration drive in seven local government areas of Kwara state to attract local and foreign investors into the sector.
The Director General of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Dr. Abdulrazaq Garba, stated this while speaking with Journalists in Ilorin.
He said the effort was aim at diversifying revenue base of the economy, generate employment opportunities, and increase the internally generated revenue drive of both the state and federal governments.
Dr. Garba said that the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development would commence airborne geophysical survey to generate mining information and data about potential mineral resources in the Asa, Ilorin West, Moro, Oyun, Irepodun, Offa, and Oke Ero local government areas of the state.
He explained that the aircrafts deployed for the missions would fly at low altitudes, adding that residents should not panic over the low-flying aircrafts.
Dr. Garba also said the programme, planned to take place across 19 states of the country over the next few months, was organised through the Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification Project (MINDIVER), a World Bank assisted project.