FG gets facility to develop mining sector

The Federal Government has obtained a loan from the International Development Association (IDA) to improve the attractiveness of the nation’s mining industry.

Moreover, it had finalised an agreement with a French firm, SOFRECO, to develop a programme for inclusion of artisanal miners in cooperative societies.

Project Coordinator, Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification, MinDiver, Linus Adie, in a statement yesterday, explained that the exercise would commence in September.

He added that the firm would conduct a comprehensive mapping of small mining sites and trading centres through establishment of a remote sensing monitoring system.

According to him, the primary objective was to enhance economic opportunities of operators as well as reduce smuggling of solid minerals.