Exploring Nigeria's Mining Industry

EXPLORING NIGERIA’S MINING INDUSTRY

       

Mining is simply the extraction of valuable minerals cum other geological materials from the earth crust, usually from lode, vein, ore-body, seam, reef, or placer, deposits. These deposits constitute a mineralized package that is of economic interest to the prospective miner. Ores gotten via mining activity are gemstones, limestone, coal, oil shale, metals, dimension stone, clay, gravel, potash, and rock salt, among others.

      

Mining is required to obtain essential commodities that cannot be possibly grown via agricultural processes, or created artificially in a factory or laboratory. Mining of stones and metals has been a well recognized human occupation since prehistoric era. Modern days mining processes involve prospecting for ore bodies, analyzing the profit potential of the proposed mine, extraction of the desired materials, and final reclamation of the affected land after the mine is closed.

      

The economic importance of mining cannot be overemphasized. In Ghana, for instance, the country’s mining sector is a very vital segment of its economy, and has played a significant role in its socio-economic development since the colonial period. Historically, the Ghanaian mining sector’s contribution to the country’s gross foreign exchange – particularly gold – has only been paralleled by its cocoa sector.

      

Not only do the products power the family car as well as heat the family home, the manufacturing sector, high tech industries, and even the better known resource industries, are all dependent – in one way or the other – on the mining industry. The mining industry will continue to be an important support to the economy of any country that embraces it. Aside boosting Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it encourages high rate of employment opportunities and equally thrives to ensure that the number of entrepreneurs in the country is increased tremendously.

      

In spite of the ongoing boom in the sector, Nigeria still lags behind. It’s shocking to note that notwithstanding the unquantifiable solid minerals the country is blessed with, mining accounts for barely 0.3 per cent of the country’s GDP, due to the influence of its vast petroleum resources. The country’s domestic mining industry is obviously underdeveloped, leading to importation of minerals such as, but not limited to, iron-ore and salt, that could be domestically produced.

      

Rights to ownership of mineral resources is held by the Federal Government (FG) who grants titles to interested organizations to explore, mine, and sell mineral resources, but ab initio, the business has been relatively unpopular. The Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration began a process of selling off government-owned mining corporations to private investors in 1999; till date, those firms are lying moribund. On assumption of duty, the President Mohammadu Buhari-led government assured Nigerians that the administration would rejuvenate the mining industry; yet at the moment, no serious impact has been recorded, perhaps owing to lack of policy direction.

       

It’s high time Nigeria started mining the available solid mineral deposits in the country that are abound – to include tale, gypsum, lead, zinc, bentonite, gold, uranium, bitumen, coal, rock salt, gemstones, kaolin and barite – all which are highly lucrative. This can only be actualized by deploring the required techniques tactically, as well as imbibing viable policies into the system.

      

Surface mining and sub-surface (underground) mining are the available two major forms of mining. The targeted minerals are generally divided into two categories of materials namely, placer deposits and lode deposits. The former consists valuable minerals contained within river, gravels, beach sands, and other unconsolidated materials, whilst the latter are those found in veins, layers, or in mineral grains widely distributed throughout a mass of actual rock. Both classes of deposits could be mined by either of the aforesaid mining types. Moreover, in-situ leaching is another technique mainly used in mining rare earth elements cum soluble minerals like uranium, potash, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, and sodium sulfate. Of all, surface mining is currently much more common and viable.

      

However, it’s pertinent to acknowledge that mining, likewise petroleum drilling, is associated with various environmental factors. These include erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, coupled with contamination of soil, ground cum surface water by chemicals from mining processes. In some cases, additional forest logging is done in the vicinity of mines, to create space for the storage of the created debris and soil. Basic examples of pollution from mining activities include coal fires, which can last for years, producing severe amounts of environmental damage. This can be properly controlled through the effort of the concerned law enforcement agency by implementing stringent environmental and rehabilitation Acts.

      

Now that diversification of the country’s economy remains the only way to overcome the lingering recessionary era, the government ought to endeavour to take the bull by the horn towards ensuring that the mining industry is accorded a well deserved attention. For this dream to be holistically actualized, hands of fellowship must be duly and sincerely extended to the cognoscenti who can spur the industry to do more even when challenges are enormous.

      

Considering the impact the mining industry stands to create on the country’s economy at large, it’s needless to state that exploring the sector is long overdue, thus feasible action is seriously needed. Think about it!

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Opinion I Making Resolutions Amid Recession

MAKING RESOLUTIONS AMID RECESSION

       

The last time I checked, the long awaited year had eventually arrived. Just like an odyssey, the beginning of every year is invariably accompanied with influx of fresh dreams, anticipations, plans, and what have you, and 2017 isn’t exceptional. It’s imperative to acknowledge that towards actualization of these wishes, the bearer is expected to inculcate reasonable resolutions into his life to enable him stick to the rules as the journey progresses.

      

The resolution would serve as a viable guide as you pursue the dream vigorously. One thing we must note is that two major factors – altitude and attitude – determine the realization of any plan. The former, which literally means the distance you are meant to cover during the journey, cannot be actualized if proper planning is taken for granted; secondly, you must follow the apt route for you to get to the anticipated destination. The latter, which signifies the lifestyle of the plan bearer, is needed to enable him do the right thing while relating with his fellow humans whilst the odyssey is on.

      

One’s attitude indeed speaks volumes when pursuing anything whatsoever. Your attitude or character would make your partners – benefactors, colleagues, or associates, as the case may be – give you the required support or attention at all times. It would equally put you in a form that would enable you apply the overall needed strategies adequately. For instance, if you are used to drinking indiscriminately, such attitude could ruin your plans, because it can make you not to concentrate, or do the right thing, as well as make your intending partners detest your person, thus wouldn’t like to work with you. A bad attitude would make the journey crash along the line owing to your inability to relate well with your fellow travellers. A bad attitude is simply like a flat tyre; it can never go anywhere until you change it.

      

In view of this, a sound resolution serves as a recipe to a viable plan. Having initiated a plan in accordance with your dreams or wishes, courtesy demands that you draw good resolutions that would help to reshape your attitudes. The proposed resolutions must be in respect of your flaws, and not that of your relatives or friends; hence, you must design a resolution that would suit your person. Don’t make resolutions in line with what others are making; it ought to be done to address your shortcomings, and not that of others.

        

Since a dream/wish is expected to beget a plan, it’s needless to state that a dream without adequate resolutions is seemingly meaningless or would remain futile. So, as every year often unveils a distinct dream, it is worthy of note that the dream might suffer a severe setback in the process if its bearer fails to summon good resolutions prior to implementing the strategies begotten by the plan. In other words, without a resolution, a dream is virtually useless, and vice-versa. It suffices to say that dream and resolution are interwoven.

        

Though making a resolution is very crucial, it’s noteworthy that sustaining it is a different issue entirely. Several factors – including influence, environment and idleness – serve as a deterrent toward the sustenance of any resolution. The company you keep can jeopardize your chances of maintaining your resolution due to influence. So, as you make a resolution, you ought to endeavour to delete some names from your friendship list.

      

Another prime factor as listed above is environment. In his words, the great philosopher Karl Marx stated that ‘Environment determines the action of the mind’. I strongly concur with this ancient assertion. Where you live or the place you found yourself at a given time plays a key role in keeping a resolution. Idleness on its part can also contribute negatively to the sustenance of a certain set of resolutions. The saying that ‘An idle mind is the devil’s workshop’ is enough reason to worry.

       

Now, the Nigerian environment is obviously characterized by famine and redundancy. The former begets hunger whilst the latter leads to idleness. These two factors, which are common features of recession, can cause huge distraction to any resolution one intends to keep. This implies that the present predicament faced by the nation can constitute nuisance in the long run, thus can destruct the wholesomeness of the journey in question. In such a circumstance, it becomes so difficult for one to make a resolution let alone sustain it.

       

Making resolutions amid the recession might seem very tough but there’s need to comprehend that such a challenge can be subdued if the needful is done. In a situation of this kind, one who truly intends to make as well as keep a resolution is required to be resolute and resilient at all cost. You must stick strongly and passionately to your dreams and resolutions irrespective of the challenges, and always endeavour to return to the original plan having suffered a setback. Let the anticipated destination remain your driving force as long as the journey lasts. Among all, you are expected to be deeply prayerful and faithful. You must build your spiritual life to the core and never depart from your faith.

      

However, it’s worth noting that the recession might be to your advantage. Those whom their flaw has been indulgence in excesses or debauchery ought to see the economic situation as a blessing in disguise. The ongoing condition would enable such persons to go only for their needs, not wants; hence, should be seen as a welcome development. Even if the recessionary era later became a thing of the past, the truth is that it had succeeded in making you discover your frivolous lifestyles.

      

Hence, I urge the people of the state and its environs not to let the current situation in the land deter them from making a sound resolution. Make a resolution today, and work towards sustaining it by sticking to the specified rules. You alone is bound to determine how your dream can materialize into reality, so do not wait for someone to do the thinking on your behalf. Think about it!   

 

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