Gov.Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Friday inaugurated the board of the Nigerian Marble Mining Company.
Makinde charged the board members to attract investments to the company within the shortest time so as to change the narrative of the company.
The governor said his administration would give the board the needed support to ensure that its operations were elevated from the subsistence level.
He maintained that mineral development was one of the core areas of focus in his administration’s economic expansion drive and urged the board to take care of the environment, saying that the state takes its environment seriously.
“Be proactive in ensuring that the company protects the environment it operates in, the company must put in place necessary measures to restore the environment where possible.
“Our environment is really dear to us. We want your operation to take charge of the environment.
“We don’t want any destruction. Please, take care of where your mining operation will impact on the environment and lives of our people.
“Ensure you do restoration activities where possible. I am excited about what is possible here and I look forward to a changed story.
“I want to ask this board that this should be taken seriously. You need to, within the shortest possible time, try to bring in investments into the company.
“And I give you the assurance that Oyo State will give you the needed support to ensure that the operation of the Nigerian Marble Mining Company is elevated from the subsistence level where it is right now.
“The link between Oyo State and Igbeti Marble is something that they know worldwide but we have not been able to do much in terms of expanding the company’s financial base, in terms of employment of a lot of our people from the catchment area, and setting a real target for ourselves.
“While I congratulate you, I also want to tell you that you have a lot of work ahead of you. This is a government that is ready to change the narrative of the company.
“So, feel free to come to us at any time and we will support you; but we want to see Igbeti Marble back on the world map,” the governor stated.
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Members of the board are Frank Odom and Imam Ganiyu — representatives of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Jadesola Lakulo-Sodipe, Chief Jacob Adetoro and Chief Mrs C. J. Aremu — representatives of the Asamu family of Igbeti.
Others are Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Oluwaseun Asamu – Executive Chairman of the Mineral Development Agency – Mr Abiodun Oni and Director-General of the Oyo State Investment and Public-Private Partnership Agency, Segun Ogunwuyi – representatives of the Oyo State Government and the Chairman of Olorunsogo Local Government, Igbeti.
The Nigerian Marble Mining Company jointly owned by the Federal Government and Oyo State Government is located in Igbeti in Oke-Ogun area of the state.
The company began operations in 1969 and was moribund for several years.
It was revived by the immediate past Governor of the state, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, in partnership with the Federal Government. (NAN)
