Mining companies placing a premium on local content in their operations have been assured of Federal Government support.
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Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, gave the assurance during a site tour of the Segilola Resources Operating Limited (SROL), an indigenous gold mining company in Ilesa, Osun State.
In a statement by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister in Abuja on Friday, Alake expressed the commitment of the federal government to support mining companies that place a premium on local content in their operations.
He noted that the Minister lauded the extensive work that has gone into the facility, expressing delight that over 95% of its staff are Nigerians, urging other operators to take a cue from them.
He advised mining companies to emulate the international best practices of the Segilola gold project to develop the sector.
Commending the high Nigerian component of the project, Alake remarked that the firm has applied local content in its procurement and employment policies.
The Minister praised the company’s tenacity of purpose and efficient methods deployed to push through with its vision, despite daunting challenges at inception.
Stressing that his focus has been to redirect local and international attention to the mining sector, Alake revealed that the implementation of his 7-point agenda is to reposition the mining sector.
“I have made sanitising the security of the mining environment one of the critical points of my 7-point agenda. Recently, as part of the process of actualising that policy, I had to unveil the creation of a marshal. They have a base in all the states of the country.
Emphasising the imperative of a harmonious relationship with host communities, Alake lauded SROL for overshooting its community development targets, urging mining companies across the country to follow suit to ensure a safer, unfettered operating environment which will culminate in maximum beneficiation for both operators, the host communities and government.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the mining company, Segun Lawson stated that the company is a world-class project powered by Nigerians, appealing for support from the Federal government to enable it to scale up and contribute better to the economy of the country.
Presenting the achievements of the company to the Minister, officials said the company operates an open pit system involving drilling and blasting, hauling and loading the rocks before processing into gold.
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