Dipo Olowookere
**Donates Operational Vehicle
By Olubori Oduntan
On Monday, August 6, 2018, in continuation of the effective collaboration that underlines the relationship between the federal government and the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development donated a brand new Toyota Hilux operational vehicle to the group.
The presentation was done by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Abubakar Bawa Bwari, who charged President of MAN to use the operational vehicle to further facilitate the activities of the association as it continues to educate its members on safer mining practices.
“It is my earnest hope that Miners Association of Nigeria will put this vehicle to use to achieve our common goal of uplifting the Nigerian mining sector,” the Minister said.
He said the ministry’s Roadmap to Shared Mining Prosperity which carefully sets down the plans of the administration for the mining sector and how to achieve them, was the product of collaboration with stakeholders.
“We made efforts to ensure that every stakeholder group was duly represented during the framing of this crucial document which incidentally emphasises the role of collaborations in the growth of the sector,” he said.
He disclosed that the Ministry has also initiated a number of programmes that would help artisanal and small scale miners to do their job more safely while providing them with the opportunities to get loans and basic machinery for mining.
In order to accelerate development in mining, Mr Bwari said the government would continue to create the enabling environment for the private sector to drive the industry as stipulated by law.
In his response, Mr Sani admitted that artisanal mining comes with many challenges and the practice can benefit from some reforms.
He affirmed that the presentation of the Toyota Hilux to the association has further shown the genuineness of the intention of the Ministry to collaborate with stakeholders. He said the vehicle would encourage the association to go into the hinterland and propagate the need for safer mining practices.
