- Curb Illegal Migration by Investing in Mines, FG Tells Investors
The Federal Government on Tuesday told global stakeholders in the mining industry to curb illegal migration of youths from Africa to Europe and the Americas by investing in mining in the continent.
Speaking at the Mines and Money Conference in London, Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Mr Bawa Bwari, said investors in the Nigerian mining industry could also bring in mining equipment into the country duty free.
Bwari said Africa was home to 30 per cent of the world’s deposits of mineral resources, adding that with youth budge on the African continent, the best way to control illegal migration was to invest in the African mining sector.
He said, “Since Africa is home to 30 per cent of the world’s mineral resources, our continent has a great role to play in sustaining mineral supply for the industrialisation and economic emancipation of a large part of the globe.
“Sadly, Africa is also home to the world’s youngest and rising generation of people who continue to flock to other lands in a desperate grab for opportunities not readily available in their home countries.
“The best way to stem the tide of illegal migration and reduce world poverty therefore is to grow African economies by investing in businesses that utilise our abundant natural resources to create employment for our teeming youth population.”
Bwari said that since it were businesses and not governments that drive growth and create wealth, leaders in the continent facing incredible challenges must take swift advantage of the current resurgence in mineral commodities to create wealth for their people.
Making a case for Nigeria, Bwari said, “For too long Nigeria was seen as an oil nation rather than a mining destination but that is beginning to change with the coming of the current administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“It may interest you to know that mining started in Nigeria as far back as 1902 but the discovery of oil led to the neglect of the sector, and subsequent policy changes drove off our foreign investors.”