Plateau prepares for Industrial take off

Investors to exploit mineral resources State provides incentives
THE Plateau State government has prepared the grounds for a full exploitation of its mineral resources to speed up its industrial growth.
The state is endowed with mineral deposits, one of which is tin for which Jos, the state capital, is sometimes called the tin city.
“Government is now ready to commence the industrialisation of the state which it has promised…by embarking on measures aimed at handing over its mineral sector to private investors that are coming to establish various industries here,” said the state commissioner for Mineral Development, Alhaji Ibrahim Sale.
The commissioner said this at an investors’ forum held at Hill Station Hotel, Jos.
He said, “Processing of minerals is a business and the whole world has realised that business is better managed by the private sector to avoid bureaucratic bottlenecks and transparency in the business transactions.
“My dear investors, you are invited here today because Plateau needs your expertise, capital and entrepreneurship to effectively harness its rich solid mineral endowment. This is to mark the take-off of the industrialisation process in the state”
Alhaji Sale said, “To kick-start this viable tool for the rapid industrialisation and economic development of Plateau State, government has put in place incentives like road networks in urban and rural areas, improved power supply and enhanced peace and security. Also there is no multiple taxation and levies. The government has also provided industrial layouts, tax holiday for three years and issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) within one month.”
Sale noted that in the past, government was in charge of the exploration and exploitation of mineral deposits.
“To reverse this trend, Governor  Jonah Jang created a separate ministry for it and set up an advisory committee on government involvement in solid mineral related activities,” he said.
Sale spoke further: “Based on the recommendations of the committee, government agreed that it would not involve itself in direct upstream mining activities any more.
“Government has resolved therefore to promote the establishment of enterprises that would bring the state mineral endowment into finished products.
The state is aiming to have industries that will process kaolin, gypsum processing, limestone, mineral water, among others.
The Miners Association of Nigeria said it is keen on the partnership with government.
 Miners from China, South Korea, US, Japan and Nigeria were in attendance in the investor’s forum.