UNTAPPED RESOURCES OF KANO STATE

The exploration of mineral resources has, without any doubt, rapidly contributed towards achieving most of the technological advancement in every sector and as well played a major role in human development.

In post independence years, Nigeria has given priority to the mining of mineral resources such as gold, tin, and columbite, copper, diamond, lead, kaoline and silica among others. Likewise, the series of farm products in the agricultural sector has substantially added value to the nation’ economy.

 The process of some mining activities

Kudos to the landmark achievement of our forefathers at that period for proper management of the  available resources in providing social amenities and infrastructural facilities that are still existing up till date.

In line with this background, Kano state, apart from being the commercial and industrial nerve centre of northern Nigeria, is also among the states blessed with vast depositors of mineral resources that are of commercial quantity. According to geological surveys in the state, the presence of solid mineral resources discovered in some parts of the 44 local government areas are well defined.

Some of the axis itemised according to the survey include, Sitti-Rimi-Kibiya-Rano which believed to have a huge deposit of resources such as literite rocks that are of sound value for construction purpose. There is also the Riruwai-Dajin Falgore axis endowed with very rich deposits of mineral resources such as lead, zinc, molybdenum, silver, copper and lithium in quantities of economic value.

According to the research which was jointly conducted by Nigerian Mining Corporation and Gold and Based Metal Mines Limited revealed that almost five million tons of mineral ore reserves containing tin and zinc were discovered in the Riruwai community. It was also estimated that over 200 million tonnes of rock containing over 0.5 million tonnes of Niobium and Uranium ore could be found there.

Moreover, the Kaolin reserves in Karaye, Gwarzo, Shanono, Tsanyawa axis are enormous. The estimation of Kaolin deposit in this axis with Getso and Danbakoshi was estimated at over four million tons followed by the discovery of feldspar deposits at Karaye which was measured at 50,000 tons.

Furthermore, the considerable reserve of good quality glass sand in excess of three million tons which is enough to ensure the production of hollow and sheet glass for forty years at a production rate of 60,000 tons per annum was discovered in Kano metropolitan-Dawakin-Tofa-Bichi-Danbatta axis.

However, in spite of these aforementioned natural endowments which indicated the abundance of great potentials and economic resources in the state, the situation of mining activities almost remains stand still.

The solid mineral resources in Kano which purposely serves as major sources of internal revenue for the then Kano province is loosing its relevance gradually in view of the problem which may be unconnected with over reliance on petroleum resources at the detriment of others in the country.

According to impeccable source, foreign companies were once running the affairs of mining activities in Riruwai but suddenly withdrew their equipments as a result of the communal hostility which led to the vandalization of their machines.

Although, mechanized mining is still in progress in the state but the output of their production is not encouraging. Lack of accurate data is one of the major challenges of the sector in accessing the quantity of available resources to motivate the interested private sector.

However, amid the recent expert alert that crude oil may dry off in the country by the year 2015, expectation is now high on the need for Kano state government to strategize the necessary measures to recover the glory of mining in the state in order to pave way for more economic benefits.

Beside the fact that this action if executed would improve the economic standard of the state, would also serve as a means of tackling the lingering problem of youth unemployment that is contributing to the increasing act of social vices in the country.

“Charity they say begin at home” therefore the state government should make a step towards making a provision for the modern equipment that will facilitate the smooth running of the productions.

Media should not be left out of this campaign in order to speed the of process sharing the gospel of the potential resources of the state to attract the interest of private investors and stakeholders partnership with state government in respect of making Kano mining sites more efficient.