The Federal Government in its determined effort to improve the economic sphere of the country, create jobs for teeming Nigerian youths, provide infrastructural development and deliver on its mandate to diversify the economy from crude oil to Mining, has set up a Ministerial Committee to ensure the production of the made in Nigerian Barite is sustained.
Inaugurating the “Ministerial Committee on Implementation Strategies for the Nigerian Barite” in the Ministry’s Headquarters on Thursday July 14th, 2022 in Abuja, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite expressed optimism that sustaining the production of the made in Nigerian Barite launched in October 2021 would not only see the country saving up about $300m Annually in Foreign Exchange but will also earn Forex for the country when exported.
Adegbite disclosed that Nigeria has abundant barite which has been developed and bagged to meet the API (America Petroleum Institute) standard. He enjoined Committee Members to be conscientious in carrying on their assignment.
In her remarks, the Minister of State, Senator Gbemisola Saraki congratulated the Ministry’s leadership for the various milestones it has achieved and pledged her unalloyed commitment to actualising the Ministry’s mandate.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Oluwatoyin Akinlade stated that the Inauguration of the Ministerial Committee on Implementation Strategies for the Nigerian Barite was very vital to ensuring the sustainability of the production of barite in Nigeria, tasked the Committee to “work hard to achieve set objectives” and keep themselves worthy of the huge assignment.
She assured of the Ministry’s full support to making sure the mandate of the Committee is achieved.
In his address, the Consultant, made in Nigerian Barite, Mr. Dolapo Olagunju, while reiterating the Nigerian Barite met the API specification for import, disclosed that part of the committee’s job was to look at critical areas of the Nigerian Barite and come up with a workable recommendation for sustaining the production of barite in the country.
The Chairman of the Committee and Director, Finance and Account of the Ministry, Dr. Nsikak Ben, appreciated the leadership of the Ministry for finding them worthy and capable of executing the assignment, noting that the Committee’s maiden meeting would hold immediately after the Inauguration Ceremony to chart out an action plan on achieving the great task.
The 10-man Committee has the following Terms of Reference:
I. To deliberate on sustainability of the established barite pricing structure
ii. Crude Barite Mining issues (Mechanization)
iii. Quality Control sustainability
iv. Logistics solution.
v. Payment structure guarantees for barite orders
vi. Security and Infrastructure issues.
Tine-Iulun M. A
For: D (Press & Public Relations Dept)
