National Assembly begins process of solid minerals bills

A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Emmanuel Egwu (APC-Kogi), on Thursday said the National Assembly would commence the consideration of Bills for the management of solid minerals in the country.
Egwu told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that there was more than one bill on the issue and that both chambers of the assembly were currently processing the bills before them.
He said that the bills were aimed at ensuring proper coordination of activities of the solid minerals sector to make it viable enough to generate huge revenue for the country.
He said that when there was fall in oil price or disruption in production of oil, the nation often suffered losses because price and volume went together.
Egwu added: “Even if the price of oil is high, as high as $100 per barrel and we cannot produce enough, it is still a problem.
“Just like what is happening in the Niger Delta today.”
He therefore said that there was the need to process the Bills in order to strengthen sources of diversification of the economy.
“We should diversify to areas that would be of immense benefit and as urgent as possible to improve on the values of the country,” Egwu added.
He called for a well-coordinated solid mineral sector, adding that an agency could be engaged to handle such assignment effectively.
He said that the job of the agency would include coordinating the exploration all minerals available in the country and exportation, explaining that it was necessary to avoid situation where items were produced but could not be exported.
“When there is more attention from government and assistance to those interested in exporting, I think it will assist Federal Government a lot,” the lawmaker said.
NAN.