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THE HONORABLE MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES,
Federal Ministry of Mineral Resources,
Abuja.
THEIR EXCELLENCIES,
GOVERNORS OF NORTHERN STATES,
Northern Governors’ Forum,
Abuja.
THE HONORABLE MEMBERS,
Northern Senators’ Forum,
National Assembly,
Abuja.
THE HONORABLE MEMBERS,
House of Representatives,
National Assembly,
Abuja.
( Dr. Tukur Umar atk tukurumaratk@gmail.com)
A CALL TO READDRESS THE IMPRUDENT DECISION ON THE LOCATION OF THE GOLD AND LITHIUM REFINERY:
A PLEA FOR EQUITABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Your Excellencies, Honorable Ministers, and Distinguished Legislators,
We, the undersigned, write to express our profound concern and disappointment regarding the recent decision to establish a gold and lithium refinery in Lagos, despite the fact that the resources are predominantly sourced from Northern Nigeria. This decision, we humbly submit, is a paradigm of inequitable resource allocation, perpetuating a colonial-era economic paradigm that relegates the North to a mere supplier of raw materials, while the South reaps the benefits of processing and export.
Our criticisms of this decision are multifaceted and far-reaching:
1. )_Exploitation and Value Denial:_ The practice of transporting raw mineral resources from Northern Nigeria to Lagos for processing epitomizes exploitation, denying the North the benefits of value addition, job creation, and economic growth.
2.) _Regional Imbalance and Inequality:_ This decision exacerbates regional disparities, hindering Northern Nigeria’s development and perpetuating economic inequality.
3.) _Environmental Degradation:_ The transportation of raw materials contributes to environmental degradation, pollution, and carbon emissions, posing health risks to communities along the transportation routes.
4.) _Loss of Revenue and Opportunities:_ The North loses revenue from taxes, royalties, and other benefits that would accrue from local processing and export.
In light of these criticisms, we propose the following solutions:
1. )_Decentralization and Regional Development:_ Establish processing facilities in Northern Nigeria to create jobs, stimulate local economies, and promote regional development.
2. _Infrastructure Development:_ Invest in infrastructure in Northern Nigeria to support local processing and export.
3. )_Capacity Building and Human Capital Development:_ Invest in education, training, and skills development to build local expertise in mineral processing and management.
4.) _Policy Reforms and Incentives:_ Implement policies promoting regional development, such as tax incentives, subsidies, and preferential treatment for local processing and export.
The benefits of local processing are numerous, including job creation, economic growth, and reduced regional inequality. We urge the Federal Government to reconsider this decision and prioritize the development of Northern Nigeria.
We request a response and action plan to address these concerns.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Tukur Umar atk tukurumaratk@gmail.com National President Gamji Global Network Forum..
SB E-news.
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