Nigeria Content Online

Goodluck Jonathan
on Tuesday promised to facilitate the establishment of solid mineral
industries in each of the six geopolitical zones, to diversify the
national economy. He made the pledge in Gusau, Zamfara State, when he
commissioned a multimillion mineral processing plant established by the
Zamfara State government and a private investor.

President Jonathan,
who said the component units of the federation should strive to provide
alternative revenue sources for the growth of the national economy,
added that our country has a greater potential in agriculture and solid
minerals than oil and gas, and that this had not been tapped for speedy
economic growth.

“We will partner
with states and foreign investors with genuine commitment to develop
our solid mineral potential for economic growth,” he said He also said
the Zamfara government would benefit from the national Consolidated
Mineral Development Fund for its initiative to set a pace for mineral
development.

The president,
however, urged the foreign partners to respect international standards
and cautioned the residents of the plant environment to be mindful of
eventual hazards.

The state governor,
Mahmud Shinkafi, said more than N4 billion was spent on the mineral
processing plant. The project was expected to generate revenue and
create jobs for the people, he said.

The president, as
part of a one-day visit to Zamfara State, also paid a courtesy call on
the Emir of Gusau, Kabir Danbaba, and commissioned a school for
children with special needs, as well as a girls’ focal primary school.

Zamfara chief

Mr Jonathan was
conferred with the traditional title of ‘Dan Iyan Zamfara’ as he
concluded the one-day official visit to Zamfara.

The Chairman of the
State Council of Chiefs, Attahiru Anka, said the council conferred the
title on the president in appreciation of his visit.

“The Zamfara State
Council of Chiefs conferred on Your Excellency, President Goodluck
Jonathan, the title of Dan Iyan Zamfara, to commemorate your visit to
the state and your love for the development of Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Anka said the
gesture was also intended to close regional barriers in mutual
understanding and corporation among ethnic nationalities in the country.

Mr Jonathan and his
entourage were later seen off by Mahmud Shinkafi, the governor of
Zamfara; Patrick Yakowa, the governor of Kaduna State; and other top
government officials at the Gusau airstrip.

The Sultan of
Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III; the Emir of Birnin-Gwari, Zubairu Jibrin
and the Emir of Argungu, Muhammadu Mera, were among the traditional
rulers who attended the occasion.

Mr Jonathan was accompanied on the trip by the National Security
Adviser, Aliyu Gusau, and the governors of Sokoto and Kebbi States,
Aliyu Wamakko and Saidu Dakingari, among other top federal and state
officials.