PricewaterhouseCoopers Nigeria (PwC) has indicated that mining activities may lift the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 10 per cent in the next five years.
The group believes that the optimal exploitation of the 44 varieties of minerals such as coal, columbite and tin in over 500 locations in the country could re-launch Nigeria as a great mining destination.
PwC Nigeria said the country’s mining sector presents incredible opportunities for both the private and public sectors, given the country’s vast natural resources and the current drop in oil prices.
The solid minerals sector has been targeted by the previous administration to contribute five per cent to GDP by 2015 and 10 per cent to GDP by 2020. Current contribution of the solid minerals sector to GDP averages about 0.46 per cent.
According to the group, it is estimated that about 80 per cent to 85 per cent of current mining activities in Nigeria is via artisanal and small scale mining.
It also noted that most mines in Nigeria are typically green fields, and in the exploratory phase, adding that infrastructure is a key element for the success of the industry. “There is therefore a need to develop a master plan for roads and rail for federal and states’ adoption,” it stated.
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