Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has
inaugurated the board of the Nigerian Marble Mining Company, charging the
members to attract investments to the company within the shortest time.
Governor Makinde, who gave the assurance that his
administration would give the board the needed support to ensure that its
operations are elevated from the subsistence level, maintained that mineral
development is one of the core areas of focus in his administration’s economic
expansion drive.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the
governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Governor Makinde stated this while
inaugurating the board at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, on Friday.
The members of the board include Engrs. Frank Odom and
Imam A. Ganiyu (representatives of the Ministry of Mines and Steel
Development); Dr. Jadesola Lakulo-Sodipe, Chief Jacob Gbadebo Adetoro and Chief
Mrs. C.J. Aremu (representatives of the Asamu family of Igbeti).
Others are Commissioner for Energy and Mineral
Resources, Barr. Oluwaseun Asamu, Executive Chairman of the Mineral Development
Agency, Mr. Abiodun Oni and the Director-General of the Oyo State Investment
and Public-Private Partnership Agency, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi (representatives of
the Oyo State government) and the chairman of Olorunsogo Local Government,
Igbeti.
In his speech, Governor Makinde charged the board to
change the narrative of the company to attract investments, even as he charged
the board to take care of the environment, noting that the state takes its
environment seriously.
He said: “I want to say congratulations to you and wish
you a successful tenure. I believe this has been done in the past. I had a
chance meeting with the former governor of the state and discussed with him one
of the promises he made during the 2015 campaign, that he promised to make
solid mineral development a priority and an avenue for the state to expand its
economy. After the discussion, he came back and inaugurated the board.
“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
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.”
Speaking on the environmental impact of the company,
Governor Makinde charged the board to be proactive in ensuring that the company
protects the environment it operates in, warning that 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.
“We will award, shortly, the Saki-Igboho road.
So, you can basically take advantage of the improved infrastructure of the
area. I congratulate and look forward to a continuous engagement to change the
story of Igbeti Marble,” he said.
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