Isa Tanbagarka, the Sokoto State commissioner for solid minerals development, says the state government will collaborate with foreign and local investors to fully exploit the abundant solid minerals in the state.

The partnership will also seek to enable the state to tap into the potential of mineral resources for its socio-economic development.

This was disclosed on Sunday in Sokoto by the commissioner when he received a team of experts from a consortium, ‘Solid Minerals Development Funds’, led by exploration manager, Sheikh Mukhtar.

The visit was to seek the consent of the state government and also to partner with it in the exploration of the phosphate mineral resources around the Dange-Shuni Local Government Area.

Mr Tanbagarka conveyed a sense of optimism that these efforts would translate into substantial and rapid development in improving the standard of living for the citizens in line with the Gov. Ahmad Aliyu administration’s nine-point agenda.

He also urged that traditional rulers be fully involved in this quest to mine our God-given resource as they know the terrain better.”

Mr Tanbagarka expressed the state government’s commitment to harness and utilise the resources efficiently.

He said, “We will do this proficiently to make solid minerals the next economic powerhouse in the state and the country at large.”

The meeting was attended by Aminu Abubakar-Gawo, permanent secretary of the ministry, Vikas Dhiman, engineer in charge of drilling, and a geologist, Lawal Abdulrahman.

(NAN)