By Henry Odeh
The federal government has assured that it would situate and formalize the establishment of gemstone market in Oyo state with the collaboration of the state government
This was made known during a courtesy visit to Oyo state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, by the Minister of Mines and Steel, Arch Olalekan Adegbete, on Thursday at the Agodi government house.
The minister explained that his visit was geared towards sensitizing local investors on various potentials inherent in the mining industry in line with the federal government mandate of diversifying the economy and ensuring the mining sector create employment and generate revenue into government coffers.
Minister of mines and steel also hinted on minerals of the future already discovered in the country and assured that the federal government would work at regulating the sector, curbing illegal activities in the state.
In his response, Governor Seyi Makinde agreed that Oyo state gemstone market with the mineral surveillance programme needed to be formalized and acknowledged that collaboration with the federal government was necessary in repositioning the sector.
Governor Makinde equally called the attention of the federal government to its responsibity at Igbeti marble bearing in mind the federal government owed a 20% shares in Igbeti marble.
The Governor also disclosed that mineral of the future had also been discovered in Oyo state and pledged that his administration remained committed to creating a viable economy in the state
