In a move that will boost investment in mining operations in Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria, the country’s Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Mohammed Sada, has hinted that the road map for the country’s solid mineral development will be released by the end of the year 2102.

Speaking during a during a meeting with a delegation of mining investors from Canada led by the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Chris Cooter, the minister said: ” with the recent discussion on the road map for solid mineral development, we are  going to have lots of activities in the sector .The  roadmap for solid minerals development will give greater opportunities for local and foreign investors to explore the enormous potentials of Nigeria’s  minerals and metals  sector”

Sada affirmed that the government is committed to opening funding windows for the minerals and metals sector that would be used to upgrade the acquisition of geosciences data among other things which will in turn attract potentials investors to the sector. While noting that the country had a large number of people with mining leases, exploration licenses among others, the minister said Nigeria lacks adequate funding and right technical skills to move forward.

He said, although the country had a large number of people with mining leases, exploration licenses among others, they lack adequate funding and right technical skills to move forward. The minister, however, revealed that an institutional framework such as the establishment of the Mining Cadastre Office is already in place to administer mining leases and enable certification of reputable mining investors.