Economy

(Re-issue) FG plans to train Nigerians on art of making Gold Jewellery

Published

5 years ago

July 29, 2020

The Federal Government says it is making plans with foreign experts to train some Nigerians in the art of Gold Jewellery making.

Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, made this known while briefing newsmen on the recently launched Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI) on Tuesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that PAGMI is a comprehensive artisanal and small scale gold mining development programme.
The initiative which was recently launched, was to foster the formalisation and integration of artisanal gold mining activities into the country`s legal, economic, and institutional framework.
Adegbite said that the initiative was designed to integrate social, environmental health and safety, economic, commercial, and technical considerations.
“We are making efforts as a ministry through the MinDiver project; experts would be coming into the country shortly once the ban on international air travel is lifted.
“We are selecting about 40 persons to be trained in Jewellery making, we are bringing in international experts and we would be picking one person per state, including the Federal Character Territory (FCT).
“Essentially, they are going to be training the trainers who will also train others across the federation. Apart from the gold itself, we are also looking at turning gold to Jewellery,“ the minister said.
He added that the essence was to add value to the country`s gold, create employment and boost the economy in line with Federal Government’s economy diversification programme.
The minister, however, called on interested investors to invest in the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI), adding that it was open to interested investors.
“While the government’s proof of consent goes on, we encourage individuals, especially Nigerians who are interested in mining to put their monies into the initiative,“ Adegbite said.
He expressed optimism that because government was a continuum, the initiative would outlive the present administration.
Adegbite stressed that the underlining principle of every government project should be the impact it had on the people and the benefits so derived.
The minister added that it should not be about the government that initiated a particular project, saying that once a project was beneficial to the people it should be sustained even when there was a change of government.
“Because this gold economy is good for our country, no matter the administration that comes after President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, I believe the initiative will be continued, “ he said.
Also speaking at the event, Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi, PAGMI Executive Secretary, said the initiative was aimed at formalising the value chain from the artisanal miners’ perspective.
She said that the initiative would ensure value addition to both the private sector investors and government as well as increase the country`s foreign reserve.
According to her, Osun and Kebbi has been approved as pilot states for the initiative while bio-metric exercise has been carried out in the states.
She said about 50 gold buying centres were established across the country at the moment, while efforts were on to equip the centres.
She added that the buying centres would serve as aggregators and would be accredited by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in partnership with PAGMI, keeping to international best practices guidelines for responsibly-sort gold.
“We want them to be profit driven, we want to bring the artisans from the dark into the light so that they don’t operate under the radar and are cheated by middle men,“ she said.
NAN further reports that the first time ever artisanal-mined gold was processed and refined according to the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), standards in Nigeria was in June.
The standards are required for the use of gold as a reserve instrument by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
By the PAGMI initiative, the CBN will be purchasing gold that has been mined, processed and refined from miners as part of the country`s external reserves rather than allowing them sell same through meddle men.(NAN)

Economy

FGN Poised To Dismantle Kidnap Economy – General Laka

Published

2 weeks ago

July 30, 2025

Our Reporter

From Lateef Taiwo

The Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), Major General Adamu Laka, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to ending kidnap economy in the country.

General Laka stated this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell in collaboration with the United Kingdom – National Crime Agency on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the centre had officially launched the State Expansion Programme of the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell, bridging a critical gap between national security coordination and state-level tactical response.

The National Coordinator noted that kidnapping in Nigeria was no longer a random crime, but an industry being ran by sophisticated and well-armed criminal networks that thrive on fear and fund violence through ransoms.

According to him, the programme was aimed at dismantling that economy by connecting national strategy with boots-on-ground action.

He said the fusion cell was created in partnership with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to facilitate high-profile rescues and breaking up kidnapping rings across the country.

The national coordinator noted that kidnapping in Nigeria was no longer a random crime, but an industry being ran by sophisticated and well-armed criminal networks that thrive on fear and fund violence through ransoms.
According to him, the programme was aimed at dismantling that economy by connecting national strategy with boots-on-ground action.

He said the fusion cell was created in partnership with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to facilitate high-profile rescues and breaking up kidnapping rings across the country.

General Laka noted the cell had played key roles in supporting rescue operations, disrupting kidnapping networks, and improving interagency coordination.

According to him, experience has shown that while national coordination is crucial, state-level engagement is also indispensable.

“Too often, real-time intelligence, local knowledge, and operational readiness reside with field commands, while national coordination can only succeed when it is informed by ground realities.

“This is the primary purpose of this programme – to close the gap between national-level coordination and state-level response. Essentially, to build direct operational linkages between the Cell and state commands across the country,” Laka said.

Economy

Food Security: Sanwo-olu Commended Over Launch of ₦500bn ‘Produce for Lagos’

Published

2 weeks ago

July 26, 2025

Our Reporter

The Good Governance Campaign Forum (GGCF) has praised the Lagos State Government for launching the “Produce for Lagos” programme, describing this initiative and its ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund as a brilliant solution to the food insecurity challenges the nation faces.

The Forum issued this commendation in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Rahman Suleiman, on Wednesday, following the official unveiling ceremony of the program earlier in the week.

The program aims to transform Lagos’ food system and reduce the state’s dependency on external food sources, receiving positive recognition both within and outside the state for the Sanwo-Olu-led government’s efforts.

According to Suleiman, the initiative is timely and represents a pioneering collaboration between the Lagos State Government, the private sector, the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company (LAFSINCO), Ekolog, and the Lagos Bulk Trading Company. He noted that this model is designed not only to enhance food production and logistics across the state but could also serve as a scalable framework for improving livelihoods and national resilience.

Suleiman shared insights from the Forum’s sampling of public opinion in Lagos and other states, indicating that people are pleased with the Lagos State Government’s strategic programs aimed at tackling hunger and starvation. He emphasized that a key component of the “Produce for Lagos” program is its data-driven approach, which will help address agricultural inefficiencies and strengthen value chains.

“Food security is a collective responsibility that we cannot afford to neglect as a nation,” Suleiman stated. “We are grateful to God for providing us with a leader like Sanwo-Olu, who is visionary, forward-thinking, and compassionate toward ordinary people.”

He commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for consistently setting benchmarks and leading by example in subnational governance. These achievements underscore the economic growth, infrastructural development, and urban planning efforts of the Lagos government.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu is a trailblazer; he has done exceptionally well, and we fully support his programs and policies. His work over the past six years speaks for itself,” he added.

Suleiman noted that this initiative, a partnership between the state government and the private sector, is expected to significantly boost agricultural production.

During the launch, Governor Sanwo-Olu also announced the deployment of a fleet of 150 cold and dry trucks—the largest of its kind—in partnership with the private sector.

Business mogul Tony Elumelu, who supported the project with ₦25 billion, stated that food security is crucial and expressed satisfaction with the collaboration between Lagos and other participating states.

Other prominent individuals at the event included Amir Kamel, Vice President of Afreximbank, and Michel Deleen, the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, among other dignitaries.

Economy

Constitution Amendment: Group Urges NASS, FG To Prioritise Restructuring, Regionalism

Published

3 weeks ago

July 24, 2025

Our Reporter

… rejects the creation of new states

A prominent youth organization, the Youth Bureau, has urged the National Assembly to prioritize genuine restructuring of Nigeria, emphasizing regional autonomy and the establishment of State Police without further delay. This call comes as the legislature reviews the nation’s constitution.

The demand was articulated in the group’s Position Paper presented to the National Assembly Committee on Constitutional Amendment for the South-West Zone, which convened recently in Lagos.

In a statement signed by its Southern Coordinator, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Thursday in Lagos, the Youth Bureau also rejected calls for the creation of new states. The group warned that the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government contradicts their position, asserting that its implementation should be set aside. They believe only the State Government should have the authority to create local governments.

AbdulRazaq urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize comprehensive restructuring, as it is fundamental to effective governance and development. He encouraged the National Assembly Committee on Constitutional Amendment to make bold decisions that will have a positive impact on the populace.

He pointed out that the regional governments established in the late 1960s in Nigeria facilitated healthy governance and development, particularly under the Action Group government led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the Western Region. During that period, significant advancements were made in free education initiatives, healthcare infrastructure, industrialization, and overall infrastructure growth.

AbdulRazaq noted that the abolition of regional autonomy by the late General Aguyi Ironsi led to a unitary system of government, which resulted in excessive concentration of power in the central government, a lack of adherence to the rule of law, and restricted resource control and financial autonomy for the regions.

The Youth Bureau’s position paper includes the following demands and recommendations for the National Assembly Committee on Constitutional Amendment:

Our Demands

We urge the National Assembly Committee to consider the following:

Genuine restructuring of the country based on regional autonomy.
No need for the creation of additional states.
The formation of State Police without further delay.
Recognition that local government is a component of state government; the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government contradicts this principle, and its implementation should be set aside. Only the State Government should have the authority to create local governments.

Conclusion

We believe that a decentralized governance system founded on devolution and decentralization will ensure political and fiscal autonomy for its component units and promote equity among them. We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize comprehensive restructuring and encourage the National Assembly Committee to make bold decisions that positively affect the citizenry.

Recommendations