The Director General, Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office, Mr Obadiah Nkom, has said has strategic plans on how the Federal Government can effectively harness the country`s abundant solid mineral resources.
Nkom who recently emerged as the President of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) said this at a news conference in Abuja.
Nkom was elected at the society`s 55th Annual International Conference and Exhibitions, in Enugu State.
He called on the federal government to close gap on harnessing the country`s solid mineral deposit as it diversifies the economy.
According to him, the wealth of the country is in its solid mineral deposit which is not being effectively harnessed.
“We have our strategic plans on how to effectively harness the country`s natural resource for the benefit of her citizens and thank God we have a listening government.
“We will continue to work and knock on government`s doors, and I can tell you that we are working, gone are those days when you have governments that don’t listen, “ he said.
He added that his office is working in collaboration with the NMGS to advise government on best way to harness the country`s solid mineral resources.
Nkom gave assurance that the society under his leadership would continue to collaborate and brief government on the country`s un-tapped solid mineral deposit.
He further pledged that he would improve on the legacies set already and work to surpass them, adding that he would rely on team work to achieve success, stressing that no one had monopoly of knowledge.
The NMGS is the umbrella organisation for mining and mineral processing engineers, metallurgists and geoscientists in the solid minerals, oil and gas, water and environment sector.
