The Nigerian Chamber of Mines and Geological Workers has reacted to President Bola Tinubu’s decision to reappoint Hajia Fatima Umaru-Shinkafi as the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (SMDF/PAGMI).
The Chamber, in a statement signed by Silas Kefas, its Chairman, said the SMDF should now focus on tackling illegal mining and poor regulatory compliance head-on and formulating policies that promote best practices in the industry.
Arogidigba Global Journal had reported that President Tinubu had canceled the earlier announcement about the appointment of Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani as the Executive Secretary of the SMDF/PAGMI, saying there is no vacancy in the agency.
A statement by the President’s Spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, announced that Umaru-Shinkafi has been reappointed as the SMDF/PAGMI boss.
The Chamber called on the reappointed CEO to use her experience in the solid minerals industry to attract more local and foreign investors and reposition Nigeria as a competitive player in the global minerals market.
It said the solid minerals industry under Umaru-Shinkafi “should witness significant advancement in the promotion of artisanal gold mining and value chain development, capacity building, job creation, infrastructural development, enhanced export capacity, financial prudence, and significant contribution to the country’s gross domestic product that will revive the economy and foster prosperity for citizens.
“We are all in it together to diversify and revamp the economy in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”