Good News! This solid mineral discovered in Sokoto will boost Nigeria's economy
- Coal in commercial deposits has been discovered in Sokoto state
- This discovery will boost efforts of the federal government to diversify Nigeria’s economy
- It will also boost Sokoto’s share of solid minerals awaiting exploration by the authorities
The efforts of the federal government to diversify Nigeria’s economy has received a major boost as commercial quantity of coal has been discovered in Sokoto state.
Other solid minerals earlier discovered included phosphate for making fertiliser, gold, limestone, gypsum, iron ore, copper, columbite, tantalite, zinc and kaolin, among others.
Governor Tambuwal of Sokoto said the discovery of coal in commercial deposits will boost diversification of the economy
This was disclosed by Governor Aminu Tambuawal of Sokoto state during a capacity building workshop on Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for beneficial participation of state governments in mining, Vanguard reports.
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In a statement issued by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, on Monday, December 26, the governor said the discovery was a major boost to federal government efforts at diversifying the country’s economy.
Tambuwal said: “The state government has already engaged a Chinese company to make research on the available mineral resources, determine their locations and their commercial viability. “The company has presented the first phase of its findings and identified 20 varieties of solid minerals.”
He explained that the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN), otherwise known as Sokoto Cement and owned by the BUA Group, has started using the coal as a source of energy in operating its plant.
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“The new cement plant can use both coal and LPFO (Low Pour Fuel Oil), and will source its power needs from the power plant. The excess generated power will be moved to the national grid,” the governor added.
This is good news for the country particularly at a time Nigeria's economy was facing the blight of declining global crude oil prices.
Recall that Nickel which could potentially be a high foreign exchange earner for Nigeria was discovered in parts of Kaduna state in August.