By Khadijah Abdullah
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development have assured the Osun government of support.
The state governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, received the assurance at two separate visits to the CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, and the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Bawa Bwari, at their offices in Abuja.
The governor told them of the large deposit of mineral resources in many parts of the state, especially gold which he said the state was yet to take its full advantage.
Oyetola sought support for the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and the Youth Entrepreneurship Programme of his administration, saying the state is planing to streamline artisan mining.
Seeking support for his administration’s agricultural programme, especially the plan to establish nine farm centers in the nine federal constituencies of the state, he disclosed that he would revitalize Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the state.
He also revealed that he would hold an Economic Summit which will hold in the first quarter of 2019.
The governor, who noted that “Osun is home of mining” told the minister that the “local miners are unregulated” and also that the state has mining license which is not utilized.
Responding, the minister promised the ministry’s support for Osun to organise artisan miners and back the state to get the best out of its mineral deposit.
Bwari described the visit of the governor less than one month after assuming office, as “an indication of his seriousness and commitment to duty.
Also, Emefiele, who commended the governor for his plan to improve agriculture, said states should embrace agriculture to provide employment opportunities for their people and generate revenue.
The CBN governor said: “I do not think states can’t be viable. They were self-sustaining in the days of regions. We‘ve abandoned agriculture. Everybody is now depending on oil. States can be viable if they leverage on their advantage.”
Emefiele promised to support Osun state within the limit of CBN programmes, adding that he had known the governor for many years as a man of integrity and competence when he was a private sector player.”
He said the plan to streamline the artisan miners and the youth entrepreneurship programme will receive the full support of the CBN.
