First Gold Refinery Berths in Ogun
The first Gold Refinery company in Nigeria, is soon to take off in Ogun State.
Minister of State for Steel and Solid Minerals, Hon. Abubakar Bawa Bwari, while performing the ground breaking of the proposed refinery in Omu Arogun, Mowe, in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state, yesterday, said a well organised gold value chain can trigger economic revolution in Nigeria.
The minister, who reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to the diversification of the nation’s economy, disclosed that his ministry has discovered over 44 minerals and gold in one of the priority areas in focus.
He said no fewer than one million people are involved in the exploration of gold in Nigeria.
Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Adepeju Adebajo, in his address, said the project is in tandem with his government’s industrialisation plan.
According to him, the project is very strategic to the state, as about 37 percent of national solid mineral outputs of the nation are found in the state.
While appreciating all industries operating in the state, the governor restated his administration’s commitment towards giving necessary incentives to the private sector operators in the to state.
Speaking earlier, the Vice Chairman, Kian Smith Trade and Company, Mrs. Ofosinere Teriba in her address, said not less than 500,000 jobs will be created by the time the industry will take off in the first quarter of next year.
The company, he added, will provide 99.99 percent refined gold, including three tonnes of gold, one tonne of silver, among other mineral resources.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Engr. Jonathan Onajobi, said the conducive environment created by the government has led to the great influx of industries into the state.
He implored the management of the refinery, to take cognisance of local content, by engaging the youths in their mining activities.
