The Honourable, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar BawaBwari, in his speech delivered at the Nigerian Manufacturers Exhibition (nme)-2019 holding at the landmark center, Victoria Island, Lagos last week noted that It is a great pleasure to be given the opportunity to speak to this august gathering on the occasion of the Manufacturers Association organized Nigerian Manufacturers Exhibition NME-2019 with the theme “Optimizing the Value Chain towards the Growth and Competitiveness in the Manufacturing Sector”.
Minister-of-State-for-Mines-and-Steel-Development-Hon.-Abubakar-Bawa-Bwari
He disclosed that the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in an effort to implement its mandates has undertaken far reaching reforms and developed strategies to fulfill this mandate and has achieved the following;
- Developed a Roadmap for the Growth and Development of the Nigerian Industry;
- Addressed the issue of low funding through the N30 Billion Intervention Fund meant for Exploration to enable sectorial growth;
- Secured World Bank loan of $150 Million for MinDiverProgramme;
- Contribution to GDP has improved from 0.03% to 0.6% in 2016;
- Revenue Generation improved from N2.08 Billion in 2015 to N3.92 Billion in 2017 and N2.97 Billion as at October, 2018;
- The Mining Cadastral Office recorded Limestone as highest Royalty Payments of N5.2 Billion through Processing Fees and other Licensing Fees;
- Retrieved the old Geological Data of Aeromagnetic Survey Data of the Country from Fugro which Nigerian Geological Survey Agency is already using to explore for strategic minerals;
- Phosphate exploration project ongoing in Sokoto State with support from OCP of Morocco;
- Carried out an inventory of the Carbonates Resources of Nigeria in conjunction with Cement Technology Institute (CTI);
- Facilitated the Development of an Industrial Minerals Roadmap;
- Facilitated the Integrated Exploration Programme to address the issue of scare Geoscience Data to aid mining investments decision on Gold, Lead, Zinc, Iron Ore and Rare Metals;
- Strengthening of Ease of Doing Business and Address of Perception Issues by establishing the Investment Promotion and Mineral Trade (IPMT) Department;
- Addressing the Lapses in Mineral Exports documentation – reducing processing time;
- Collaborating with Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) to develop Mineral Export Guidelines;
- Addressing the lapses in Mineral Title Administration of the Mining Cadastral Office;
- Addressing Health and Safety Issues as well as promoting Federal – State Governments Cooperation;
- Addressing the issue of funding for Operators in the sector through collaboration with the Bank of Industry;
BawaBwari pointed out that “the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), being a foremost and elite organized private sector Body has demonstrated sterling competencies and uncommon resilience in the face of daunting challenges confronting the manufacturing sector in Nigeria
“The Mining Sector having been identified as a sector that will help reposition and facilitate Government’s diversification efforts and source of additional revenue, has placed a great demand on the Ministry of Mines & Steel Development (MMSD). This was clearly conveyed by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Ministers during the appointment of Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Hon. Abubakar BawaBwari as Minister and Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development with clear mandate to increase the revenue generation from the sector, broaden the sector’s capacity to create jobs, and implement policies that will engender sustainable mining
The minister said “the subject of optimizing the Value Chain of the Manufacturing Sector to enhance growth and global competitiveness of Nigeria is the theme for this gathering. We have come to realization that no industry or sector operates in isolation and therefore every manufacturer correspondingly has to ensure that his products and services add to the value chain of the product line to achieve national growth and global competitiveness, added he.
“Nigeria at the moment has many isolated products that need to be inter-linked with its up-stream and or down-stream products and services. I am sure that Value Chain concept does not need a definition to this audience but necessarily have to state that the strategic linkages of the products and services of the various sectors of the nation’s economy would define speed of accomplishment of national goals.”
