An inspection team of the National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency on a recent tour to Igbokoda town in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State has expressed optimism at the level and progress of work done by the agency’s project field crew in the area.
The team, comprising the Director-General and Chief
Executive Officer of the agency, Dr Umar Albarka Hassan in company of the Head
of Department, Coal & Industrial Minerals and Project Supervisor, Adeniji
Oyeniyi, witnessed a high level of progress in the ongoing exploration work, including geophysical survey and other geological investigations.
The DG paid a courtesy visit to the High Chief of Igbokoda/Aboto community where he thanked the chief for the warm reception, support and cooperation the field crew has enjoyed since the inception of the project and further urged him to sensitize members of the host community to give the team the necessary support for the benefit of all.
While assuring that the agency would do its part in contributing to the growth and development of the community and nation at large, he emphasised the need for cordial relationship and mutual understanding between implementers of such projects and host communities.
On his part, the chief pledged the continued support of the people and urged the government to continue in its efforts of diversifying the nation’s economy by exploring solid minerals which communities like Igbokoda are blessed with. He further appealed to the agency to support the community with projects that will improve the welfare of the people.
Igbokoda is just one of at least five areas in the country where the agency is focusing attention in its search for Silica Sand in Nigeria. Recall that the agency had reported in January 2021 that it was evaluating Silica Sand occurrences in Ondo, Cross River, Niger, Katsina and Ogun states.
The Silica Sand project is one of many ongoing activities of the agency as part of its mandate to explore for steel and ferro-alloy raw materials raw materials across the country.
