So, the Federal Government is really getting serious about boosting local production of salt and kaolin. They’ve put together a 10-person team to figure out how to make it happen on a big scale. The goal is to make more of these minerals right here in Nigeria and create jobs while they’re at it. Dr. Mary Ogbe, the big boss at the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development/Steel Development, talked about how this fits into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s plan to bring ‘Renewed Hope’ to the country. The idea is to use more of these minerals at home, sell them abroad, and make more jobs. Dr. Oladele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, is all fired up about leading the charge to find, dig up, and process salt and kaolin in Nigeria. The plan is to use them here and then send them off to other countries, which will help create jobs, save money, and boost the economy. The 10-person team has a bunch of things to figure out, like where to find the minerals, how much it’ll cost to get them, and how to set up processing plants. Dr. Ogbe is really pushing them to get it done by November 30, 2023. The head honcho of the Council for Mining Engineers and Geoscientists of Nigeria, Prof. Zachaeus Opafunsho, is leading the team, with Mrs. Salamatu Umar as the secretary. The hope is that all this hard work will lead to a strong and self-sufficient salt and kaolin industry in Nigeria.
