Yobe targets jobs, industrialisation through mining

Recently, the Yobe State Government hosted a Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum on Mineral Resources Development, drawing government officials, industry leaders, technical experts, professional bodies, and investors to deliberate on strategies for harnessing the state’s mineral wealth. With Nigeria considered as a monolithic economy and the inherent danger in relying on a single economic source, observers, analysts […]

Recently, the Yobe State Government hosted a Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum on Mineral Resources Development, drawing government officials, industry leaders, technical experts, professional bodies, and investors to deliberate on strategies for harnessing the state’s mineral wealth.

With Nigeria considered as a monolithic economy and the inherent danger in relying on a single economic source, observers, analysts and stakeholders have stressed the need for diversification of the economic belt in a bid to position for a sustainable and enduring economic future.

For the sub-nationals, it is often said that there is no better time than now to explore other revenue streams to meet the rising demands.

This is why Yobe recently held a forum to leverage on the abundant mineral resources in the state.

The forum, organized under the theme “Building Strategic Partnerships for Sustainable Mining and Industrial Growth in Yobe State,” focused on turning deposits of limestone, gypsum, kaolin, granite, quartz, silica, trona, and diatomite into opportunities for job creation, investment attraction, and industrial development.

In his keynote address, Governor Mai Mala Buni highlighted the untapped potential of the state’s mineral resources, noting, “For decades, these gifts of nature have remained largely underutilised. The time has come to turn these hidden potentials into productive assets that will create jobs, generate wealth, and advance the socio-economic development of our people.” He outlined the government’s priorities, emphasizing policy alignment with federal regulations, investor engagement, environmental safeguards, and community participation. The governor stressed the need for a transparent and accountable framework to ensure that mining activities benefit both investors and local communities.

Governor Buni also noted that responsible mining could become a major driver of economic resilience, youth employment, and revenue diversification for the state. “This forum is not just another conference; it is a strategic convergence of minds and mandates,” he said. He called on stakeholders to work collaboratively, ensuring that mining operations adhere to safety standards, environmental regulations, and social responsibilities while attracting credible investors.

Director General of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Professor Olusegun Omoniyi said, “Yobe State, with its rich endowment of industrial minerals such as gypsum, limestone, kaolin, and potash, holds immense potential for diversification of the economy, job creation, and poverty reduction.

“However, the realization of this potential requires the active partnership of all stakeholders—government, investors, host communities, and technical agencies like ours.”

Technical expertise was also emphasized. Professor Olusegun Omoniyi Ige, Director-General of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), underlined the importance of geoscientific data in attracting investment.

“Accurate mapping and mineral assessments reduce exploration risks and provide confidence for investment. Yobe has immense potential, but realizing it requires collaboration between government, investors, host communities, and technical agencies,” he said.

Engr. M.A.K. Abubakar, Chairman of the Yobe Mining Development Company Limited (YMDCL), described the company as the government’s vehicle for coordinating mineral exploration and development across the state. “YMDCL exists to ensure transparency, accountability, and measurable results.

“Our goal is to turn Yobe’s mineral potential into real economic benefits for the people,” he said, adding that the company would serve as a one-stop hub for investors and stakeholders in the mining sector. Abubakar commended the governor’s leadership in prioritizing local resource-driven economic growth over dependence on federal allocations and stressed the importance of building partnerships with private investors, traditional rulers, and host communities.

 

The forum also showcased the role of professional bodies in supporting sustainable mining. Ms. Rose Chundung Ndong, President of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), highlighted the importance of training geoscientists, engineers, and artisanal miners, promoting value addition, and ensuring that local communities benefit from mining operations. She said, “No single entity can achieve sustainable mining development in isolation. It requires a tripartite collaboration between government, private sector, and professional bodies.”

Hon. Kaigama Umar Yunusari, Commissioner for Commerce, Trade, Investment, Tourism, and Solid Minerals, reiterated the government’s commitment to creating a socially inclusive and investor-friendly mining sector.

He noted that building a mineral-based economy required alignment of state strategies with federal policies, technical capacity development, and the promotion of local processing industries.

Throughout the forum, discussions covered mineral mapping, policy alignment, investor incentives, community engagement, environmental safeguards, and regulatory compliance. Stakeholders emphasized the importance of data-driven decisions, capacity-building, and coordinated actions between government agencies, development partners, investors, and host communities.

Governor Buni concluded the forum by underscoring the state’s readiness to advance its mining sector. “This forum symbolises our collective readiness to move from potential to productivity, from resource to revenue, and from promise to performance,” he said.

With YMDCL coordinating development, technical support from NGSA, and professional guidance from NMGS, Yobe State is laying the groundwork for a mining sector that is transparent, sustainable, and inclusive, with the potential to generate employment, attract investment, and drive industrial growth across the region.

Meanwhile, the government signed a memorandum of understanding and partnership with the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency and four local and international investors to drive exploration and value addition in the state mineral sector.

The four investors; GeoScan Technology Limited, Revolve Mining Company, Deep Strata and Minepro and Energy signed an agreement with the state government for sustainable mining and industrial growth in Yobe.

The Managing Director of the Yobe Mining Development Company Engr. Bamodu Yerima, signed the MUOs on behalf of the state government at the Stakeholders Forum.

Speaking shortly after the MOUs, Governor Mai Mala Buni of the state, said Yobe is richly endowed with mineral resources such as limestone, gypsum, trona, diatomite, kaolin, phosphate, granite, silica and several other untapped resources.

He said the state government has prioritized industrialization and resource optimization as pillars of sustainable growth transforming its mineral endowments into viable enterprises.

The Governor said the MOUs between the state government and investors were meant to diversify the state economy, create jobs, and attract credible investors to unlock the potential of Yobe soil and minerals.

‘‘The time has come to turn these hidden potentials into productive assets that will create jobs, generate wealth, and advance the socioeconomic development of Yobe state.

‘‘When our mineral resources are properly managed Yobe can become a major driver of solid minerals, provide jobs for our teeming youths and improve our internally generated revenue.

Speaking, one of the investors, The Founder/CEO of Geoscan Technology Limited, Ulrich Eichhorn, said the company has partnered with the Yobe government to explore the state’s solid mineral resources.

He said the partnership aims to advance solid minerals exploration, exploration and judicious use of revenue. 

In the communique issued at the end of the conference,  it was agreed that the inherent potential in Yobe State’s mineral endowment is humongous and transforming mineral endowment into tangible development would involve data-driven exploration, infrastructure development, as well as human capital and local content promotion.

“Though there are known commercial deposits of metallic minerals (iron ore, bauxite, chalcopyrite), non-metallic minerals (gypsum, trona, limestone), and energy minerals (uranium, coal, crude oil); large-scale mining in Yobe State is currently limited and there are many minerals yet undiscovered hence need for detailed exploration study by professionally qualified personnels

“Yobe State is at a critical turning point in its economic transformation drive, and huge opportunities that have been opened up for local and foreign investors needs to be properly amplified and communicated through dedicated channels to drive the narrative. 

“Communities and Traditional Institutions should be continuously engaged as key partners with the Government in ensuring that mining contributes to inclusive, peaceful and sustainable growth.”