Exclusive

Senator Ekong Sampson Presents Bill on Establishment of Nigerian Mineral Development Corporation

Bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Mineral Development Corporation, sponsored by Senator Ekong Sampson, earlier today, passed First Reading in the Senate.

The Bill aims to provide a legislative framework for the establishment of a corporation which will oversee the operation of Nigeria’s mineral sector to meet the sector’s projected potential.

Sponsor of the Bill, Senator Ekong Sampson, representing Akwa Ibom South and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, speaking after plenary, said when passed, the Bill will reshape the country’s mineral sector for greater efficiency and productivity.

Recall that Nigeria’s solid minerals sector has been identified as a vital industry with the potential to not only generate huge revenue and foreign exchange for the country, but also serve as a formidable tranche of economic diversification, beyond oil.

Last week, the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals held a 3-day investigative hearing with strategic players in the industry geared towards revitalizing and repositioning the sector. Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio declared the hearing opened, with the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, among attendees.

© Media Unit
Senator Ekong Sampson,
16/05/2024