The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arch Olamilekan Adegbite, has said they need more funds for mineral exploration to de-risk the mining sector and make accurate data on minerals available to attract investors in Nigeria.
Arch Adegbite disclosed this Friday shortly after he received the second batch report on the National Integrated Minerals Exploration Programme (NIMEP) from two companies.
- Tinubu: Deft move of kingmaker eyeing the throne
- Inside Edo communi mining in Nigeriaty where people live with dung, blood from abattoirs
He said the $50m (N15bn) allocated to the ministry by President Muhammadu Buhari for exploration was spent judiciously by five companies.
SPONSOR AD
Adegbite said the extra funds were needed for exploration, as 133 prospective minerals comprising lead, zinc and silver areas had been identified in the Benue trough.