In a move to plug the shortfall in federal allocation which has rendered many state governments incapacitated, the six states in Southwest Nigeria have commenced cooperation on exploration of solid minerals in the region.

Representatives of the states gathered at the Cocoa House, Ibadan yesterday to develop a model on how best to explore the several solid minerals in their states to generate revenue, create employment and create more wealth for the people of the region.

They gathered on the platform of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission which organized the roundtable.

Analyzing the solid mineral deposits across the region and how best to explore them for the development of the region, the facilitator, Prof. Gbenga Okunlola, identified at least, 10 mineral deposits of commercial value which the region can explore.

The several mineral deposits, according to Okunlola include gold, tar sand, glass sand, construction sand, clay, oil and gas, limestone, granite, phosphate, gypsum, bitumen and silimanite. Others are dimension stone, gemstone, marble, aquamarine, tantalic, feldspar, tourmaline, emerald, quartz, syenite and topaz.



In his presentation entitled: “Strategic Engagement Document for Repositioning the Solid Minerals Sector in South West Nigeria,” Okunlola, who is a professor of Geology at the University of Ibadan, urged the region to develop a model to explore the minerals with a view to repositioning Southwest for self-sustenance.

He identified obstacles to the idea to include lack of funding, lack of clear-cut optimization model, misplacement and underutilization of capacity and lack of regional cooperation.

But he challenged the state governments to embrace regional model of intervention. If undertaken, Okunlola pointed out that the move will translate to establishment of exploration and mining companies, enable government enter into joint ventures with miners, adding that it will allow states share the risks and achieve better results.

The expert urged states to look away from the clamour for amendment of the solid minerals law to enable states acquire licence, saying only regional cooperation and stability are needed in the sector to attract investors into the sector for regional development.

The Director General of the commission, Mr Dipo Famakinwa, said the effort has become pertinent in view of the dwindling oil revenue.

He said:  “We really don’t have a choice than to continue to see how we can move together to optimize the resources within our region. But the political will and the required coalition to move on and many of those things need to be put together.”

When hungry finally deals with u, u will know hw to make use of your talent. That's wat is happening to these state governors, they have been spoon fed with the federal allocation coming mostly from oil for too long, now the dwindling oil price is teaching them how to fall back to their individual mineral resources...