The Kano State government has partnered with Earth Wish Nigeria Limited, a mining company that has pledged to create 100,000 jobs for Kano indigenes.
Daily News 24 reports that this announcement was made on Wednesday during a visit by the State Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Alhaji Safiyanu Hamza Kachako, to Dala Inland Dry Port, where Earth wish Nigeria Limited detailed its plans to commence mining operations in the state.
READ ALSO: FG to create 1 million digital jobs for young Nigerians
Abba Sani Abdullahi, the Chairman of Earth wish Nigeria Limited, emphasized the company’s commitment to employment generation, stating that their mining operations will provide jobs for 100,000 people in Kano.
“We are bringing our mining activities to Kano to bring about employment for our people. We are capable of employing about 100,000 people in the mining sector,” Abdullahi stated.
Abdullahi further disclosed that with the support of Dala Inland Dry Port, Earthwish plans to export minerals directly to China, avoiding the need to ship through Lagos or Port Harcourt.
Abdullahi outlined the firm’s intention to begin mining iron, tin, columbite, and aluminite, with the goal of boosting Kano’s internally generated revenue (IGR) and altering the narrative that the state lacks exports.
During the visit, the Managing Director of Dala Inland Dry Port, Ahmad Rabiu, showcased the port’s state-of-the-art facilities available to store, process, and secure mined minerals for the firm.
These facilities include a surveillance room, a modern warehouse that will aid in storing minerals, and a laboratory for testing the minerals to ensure they meet global standards and can be exported.
Ahmad Rabiu, the Managing Director of Dala Inland Dry Port, emphasized the readiness of the port to kick-start its collaboration with Earth Wish Limited and the state government.
“Anyone exporting goods from this point does not need to visit any other facility. This is a facility adequately equipped for the business, strategically positioned to enable Kano people to gain employment.”
The State Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Safiyanu Hamza Kachako, praised the partnership as a significant milestone for Kano’s economic growth and assured the government’s full support for the initiative.
“This collaboration is a significant step in boosting our local economy. The ministry is going to work hand in hand with any investor that is into mining to guarantee a safe environment for both our people and our investors.
“We will also work hand in hand with security agencies to ensure that criminal elements are not involved in this mining process,” Kachako stated.
The Commissioner also advised that children should not be involved in any mining activities, stressing the state government’s commitment to protecting children’s education.
“Children should not be involved in mining activities. The Kano State government is committed to preventing our children from dropping out of school to work in mining sites,” Kachako warned.
