Local Content: Minister lauds Segilola Gold Project, assures miners of Nigerian Government’s support

*Dr. Oladele Alake, Nigeria’s Minister for Solid Minerals Development, commends Segilola Gold Project, on the company’s operations and mining facility located in Atakumosa East Local Government Area of Osun State, urging other firms to emulate SROL in international best practices to develop the mining sector

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Dr. Oladele Alake, Honourable Minister for Solid Minerals Development, has advised mining companies in Nigeria to emulate the international best practices of the Segilola Gold Project to develop the sector.

Alake stated this while speaking during a site tour of the Segilola Resources Operating Limited (SROL), an indigenous gold mining company, Thursday, April 4, 2024, in Ilesa, Osun State.

The Minister lauded the extensive work that has gone into the facility located in Atakumosa East Local Government Area of the state.

He expressed delight that over 95 percent of the mining company’s workers are Nigerians.

Segun Tomori, Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, in a statement noted Dr. Alake urged other operators in the mining sector of the Nigerian economy to take a cue from SROL.

The Minister also expressed the commitment of the Federal Government to support mining companies that place a premium on local content in their operations in the West African country.

“It gladdens my heart that this is a wholly Nigerian project, and that is very commendable.

“Yes, you have contractors, experts, and technical professionals, which is expected in any project of this magnitude, but it is essentially a Nigerian project.

“That, for me, is very remarkable and worthy of emulation by other potential investors, local or foreign alike,” said he.

Alake further commended the company’s tenacity of purpose and efficient methods deployed to push through with its vision, despite daunting challenges at inception.

Activating the 7-point agenda to reposition mining industry

Stressing that his focus has been to redirect local and international attention to the mining sector, Dr. Alake disclosed the implementation of  his 7-point agenda is to reposition the mining sector of the economy.

The Minister also stated: “I have made sanitising the security of mining environment  one of the critical points of my 7-point agenda.

“Recently, as part of the process of actualising that policy, I had to unveil the creation of mines marshals.”

He explained: “They have a base in all the states of the country, with the command structure in my office.

“In fact, that has thrown some sanity into the operating environment of the mining sector.

“Reports reaching us  indicate that illegal miners are already fleeing their sites, even before operations reach a crescendo.”

As regards the imperative of harmonious relationship with host communities, Alake again, lauded Segilola Gold Project for overshooting its community development targets.

The Minister urged mining companies across the country to follow suit to ensure safer, unfettered operating environment which will culminate in maximum beneficiation for both operators, the host communities and the Nigerian Government.

In his remarks during the tour, Mr. Segun Lawson, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Segilola Resources Operating Limited, stated that the company is a world-class project powered by Nigerians.

Lawson appealed for support from the Federal Government to enable the company to scale up and contribute better to the economy of the country.

Alake, in his response, pledged the support of the Federal Government for SROL, particularly because it promotes local content and positively impacts the host communities with developmental projects.

Kindly Share This Story