Government projects Heritage Bank-Dukia Gold will boost 200m ounces gold reserves

* Partnership extremely valuable source of trade, jobs and foreign exchange ─VP (Prof.) Yemi Osinbajo

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In furtherance of the current administration’s economic diversification policy initiatives, the Federal Government of Nigeria has lauded Heritage Bank Plc for being part of a valuable private sector collaboration with Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Refining Company Limited.

It was learnt that such a partnership, according to the Government, stands to create new vistas of opportunities for the country to grow its potential reserves of 200 million ounces of gold.

Raw Gold Deposits in Nigeria

Vice-President (Prof.) Yemi Osinbajo was said to have disclosed this during a Zoom meet & chat session, a virtual platform at the launch of nationwide Dukia-Heritage Bank Gold & Precious Metals Buying Centres in Abuja, FCT.

Osinbajo stated that the launch of the expansive project between Heritage Bank and Dukia Gold would enable Nigeria to mine its reserves properly, trade responsibly, refine locally to boost the nation’s foreign reserves.

The Vice-President said: “What we are looking at here is an extremely valuable new source of trade, jobs and foreign exchange.

“This project will create primary employment for local artisanal miners and mining cooperatives across the solid minerals value chain.

“Off-take agreements between Dukia Gold and local mining communities and owners of recyclable gold will be a useful provider of jobs in our post-COVID economy.”