• Assures of Adequate Security
From John Adams, Minna
The Niger state government has reassured investors and other development partners ready to do business in the state of adequate security of their lives and property.
The Speaker of the state assembly Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkindaji gave the assurance in Minna, the state capital on Thursday evening when he received in audience on behalf of the Governor, Rt. Hon. Umar Mohammed Bago, Team of Chinese Miners who were in the state to seek possible ways to collaborate with the state government towards developing her mining and other mineral sectors in the state.
The Speaker told the Chinese delegation that the state government was ready to do business with every genuine investor, saying that the present administration in the state is looking at various ways to improve the revenue base of the state.
According to him, the only way the state government can increase it revenue base and look less towards federal allocation is to diversify the economy and seek better ways to partner with investor, stressing that the state is blessed with diverse mineral resources ready to be tapped.
While assuring the visitors and other intending investors of adequate security in the state while doing their business, the Speaker pointed out that the current security situation in the state is not as bad as it is being reported but however promised that the current security challenges in parts of the state will soon be a thing of the past.
Rt. Hon Sarkindaji said the governor has singled out security as a major priority of his administration because of the realization that without adequate security, there can be no meaningful development, stressing that “within less than two weeks of his inauguration, the governor has restored peace within Minna, the state capital and its environs.
“Before the coming of this administration, Minna the state capital has remained under siege from miscreants who unleashed terror on innocent people without provocation but all that has been addressed and the menace has disappeared”.
The Speaker thanked the delegation for coming to partner with the government to develop her mining sites, adding that the present administration has frowned at the increasing rate of the activities of artisan miners in the state, assuring that the state house of assembly will not hesitate to come up with the necessary legislation to curb their activities.
Earlier the leader of the delegation and Chairman of Sino Trust Group, a Chinese Mining Company in Nigeria, Nathan Ye, told the Speaker that the mining firm picked interest in Niger state despite the security challenges because of the huge deposit of minerals in commercial quantity in parts of the state.
He disclosed that the company is ready to partner with state government to develop her vast minerals resources in other to increase its revenue base and generate employment for the people of the state.
Also speaking the Director of ChengYu Lithium mining company said the Chinese mining companies are currently operating in no fewer than 13 states of the federation, pointing out that Niger state stands to benefit from the partnership.