As part of efforts towards the development of the nation’s industrial solid minerals sector as sources of raw materials supply to critical industries in the country, the Raw   Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has entered into a partnership arrangement with the Nasarawa State Government on the development and Utilization of Solid Minerals in the State.

Speaking while receiving officials of the Nasarawa State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources led by Mr Thomas Beeshay who were in the Council on a working visit, the DG RMRDC, Professor Hussaini Doko Ibrahim stated that RMRDC was getting into the partnership with the aim of collaborating towards the development of abundant solid minerals resources of Nasarawa state.

He said the Council was committed to promoting the development and utilization of the abundant natural resources in the state to add fillip to the industrialization efforts of the state government for jobs creation and economic growth in the state, adding that the Council had earlier collaborated with Nasarawa State Polytechnic to establish a salt processing plant in Awe local Government Area of the state for women groups.  

The RMRDC Boss said this partnership has yielded positive results by upscaling activities around the sourcing, development and improvement of indigenous process methods and technologies for processing salt locally in Nasarawa state and beyond.

While noting that a good working relation was necessary to fast track the industrial development of Nasarawa State, the RMRDC DG expressed optimism that it would fast track the attainment of industrial growth to further strengthen existing working relationships between the state and the Council.

The DG averred that both entities could work together to develop other industrial minerals in the state, including the agricultural potentials of the state whilst adding that the establishment of a Fertilizer processing plant by the Nasarawa State Government, has made it necessary for the state to look inwards for basic agro raw materials through value addition.

The DG thereafter assured the Nasarawa State officials that the Council will collaborate with the State Government to deliver advancement in raw material sourcing and value addition in the identified sectors of the state’s economy.

Earlier, leader of the Nasarawa State delegation, Mr Thomas Beeshayi, said that the Nasarawa State Ministry of mineral resources is seeking partnership with RMRDC in three 3 major areas of mineral development.

He identified the areas to include: capacity building on cutting and polishing of gemstones, establishment of Barytes and Silica Sand processing plant and salt processing.

Beeshayi disclosed that, though it is a fact that the State is endowed with minerals, it is lacking in the areas of skill, process machines/technology. The Director noted that exploring and processing of these minerals have indeed suffered set back because of lack of skill and proper processing technology.

According to him, the State is therefore seeking to collaborate with RMRDC to revived the mineral sector.

The Director, Industrial Extension Services Department (RMRDC), Dr. O. Olugbemi, who was also present revealed that the Council, in collaboration with the African University of Technology, is working to establish a mineral testing laboratory of which certificate will be issued to qualified miners.