The Federal Government (FG) has revealed it has completed the rail line from Warri Port through Ajaokuta to Itakpe.

Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Abubakar Bwari said the completion of the ongoing works in Warri Port and the Escravos would ease access to the deep sea, and open up business opportunities for Ajaokuta and Delta steel Plants.

He also said that the completion of the dredging of River Niger and almost completion of Warri port and the Escravos channel would facilitate export and import of goods through the Warri port using flat bottom vessels.

Bwari added that the Electro-magnetic survey data for three highly prospective gold and lead zinc zones have also been acquired and are available for interested investors.

The Minister stated this yesterday in Abuja at the 3rd Nigeria Mining Week, organised by the Miners Association of Nigeria, in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Spintelligent.

He added that the ministry has strengthened its policy and institutional frameworks for investors in the minerals sector and daily it gets easier to do mining business in Nigeria.

His words, “The efforts of the present administration led by President Muhammad Buhari to find alternative sources of wealth creation by developing the mineral resources of our country has led to a number of innovations in the sector.

“We have strengthened our policy and institutional frameworks for investors in the minerals sector and daily it gets easier to do mining business in Nigeria.

“The dredging of the River Niger has been completed while works at Warri Port and the Escravos Channel is about to be completed. These works would facilitate export and import of goods through Warri Port using flat bottom vessels.

“The Central Corridor Railway Line linking Warri Port to Abuja through the North central, home to iron ore, steel plants, coal resource and pegmatite bearing lithium, is also under construction. The rail line from Warri Port through Ajaokuta to Itakpe is already completed. The completion of the ongoing works in Warri Port and the Escravos would ease access to the deep sea, and open up business opportunities for Ajaokuta and Delta steel Plants by paving way for the shipment of bulk goods to and from sea ports.

“The government has released funds from the dedicated Natural Resources Development Fund for the generation and provision of necessary geosciences data to attract investors. Indeed, five exploration works contracts and consulting services for gold and platinum group metals; Rare Earth Metals; Base Metals; Barytes; and Iron Ore, were recently awarded through competitive bidding to carry out resource mapping for potential mineral prospects.

“In a similar development, the Electro-magnetic survey data for three highly prospective gold and lead zinc zones have also been acquired and are available for interested investors.

“The Nigerian Government has also initiated a Partnering Scheme with the private sector for the provision of infrastructure through the implementation of a National Integrated Infrastructure Masterplan. In this regard, the construction of a 3,035MW Mambila Plateau Hydro-power Plant is already under way and this will boost economic activities in that zone of blue sapphire and bauxite.”

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