Nigeria and South Africa are set to partner in the mining sector. Recently, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, and his South African counterpart, Mr. Mosebenzi Joseph Zwane restated their commitment to the improvement in cooperation of the two countries in mining and minerals development.
The two Ministers gave the assurance at a meeting held in Abuja while receiving the progress report of the technical working teams on the implementation of the MOU on mining signed in June, 2016.
The Ministers commended the technical working teams for a job well done and pledged commitment to addressing identified gaps, adding that this is the responsibility they owed the citizens of both countries.
Dr. Fayemi in his remarks stated that mineral processing and beneficiation were key to Nigeria’s economic development and growth plan which is in line with the Nigerian Mining Roadmap. He appreciated South Africa’s assistance with the training of three Nigerians in that country.
The South African Minister Mosebenzi Joseph Zwane noted Nigeria’s potentials in mining and agriculture and the efforts being made by the present administration to further develop the mining two sectors. He expressed delight in participating in Nigeria’s 2017 international Mining conference. “We join you to start this first step as you are holding your mini INDABA tomorrow” he said.
He stressed the need for the citizens of the two countries to benefit from each other’s natural resource citing an example of a Nigerian who is doing well in mining business in South Africa.
The South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Aaron Mnguni, was among the South African delegation at the meeting.
The ConMin West Africa and the National Mining Summit 2017 kicks off on Tuesday at the International Conference Centre Abuja. The conference would be attended by policy makers, investors, exhibitors and operators in mining from the continent and beyond.
By Pita Ochai