FG to deepen geophysical data with airborne survey

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, has said that the deployment of airborne geophysical survey activities would aid accurate determination of mineral locations.

By using modern day contemporary magnetic and radiometric methods, the minister noted that the survey was critical to de-risking the sector thus making it attractive to both local and foreign investors.

Speaking during an inspection of two aircraft earmarked for geophysical survey activities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the minister, in a statement made available to The Guardian, said that the development would ultimately lead to more job creations and increased revenue for the government.

Indeed, the survey is expected to measure minor variations in the earth’s magnetic fields and gamma radiations in the soil.

The Ministry explained that the method is a passive technique that does not involve sending out any signals or sound waves into the ground and therefore remains a very safe aerial survey.

The aircraft would be flown over regions in north-western, western and eastern Nigeria that display the highest potential for locating economic mineral deposits. The survey will cover 173,000 km2, acquiring some 1,360,000 line-km of geophysical data acquisition on survey lines spaced 150 m apart.

“The data gleaned from this survey will make our mining sector more attractive thus spurring both foreign and local businessmen to invest in the sector, which would create jobs, increase government revenue and spur infrastructural development.”

The minister equally observed that the country had a lot to gain from the survey, explaining that the benefits from the survey would transcend the mining sector into other spheres of the economy.

“The country as a whole, would benefit immensely from the data we are generating as geological information is useful for decision-making in a wide range of activities such as the construction of infrastructure projects, the development, sustainable use and protection of groundwater and environmental impact assessments amongst other uses,” he said.

Adegbite, equally advised the public in the States and local government areas that would be covered by this survey not to panic either as a result of the loud noise of the aircraft due to the low flying altitude maintained by the aircraft or the pattern of movement of the aircraft.

“I can assure you that the planes would be flown by experienced pilots and there is actually nothing to be afraid of. The flights are planned and there is nothing to be afraid of”, he added.

The Project Co-coordinator of MINDIVER, Salim Salaam said that the survey would cover 19 States of the federation covering 112 Local Government Areas in order to determine accurate mineral locations using modern day contemporary aeromagnetic mechanisms.