Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency (NSRMEA) has conveyed the commitment of the agency to complete some of its exploration projects across the country in the coming months, while also looking to build on the gains of 2023.
This much was revealed during a meeting with Heads of Departments and Units of the agency recently. The Chief Executive noted that barring any unforeseen circumstances, many of its projects will be concluded by the end of 2024.
"Last year, we had several projects we had embarked on and were implementing, including those for Silica Sand, Limestone, Bauxite, Coal, Iron Ore, Titanium, and so on in several parts of the country. I am glad to announce that some of those projects have been concluded and we are on course to conclude some others by the end of 2024," he said.
Some of these projects include the Igbokoda/Aboto Silica Sand Resource Exploration, where geological mapping was carried out on a scale of 1:5,000 around the Orere-Ara area, with ninety (90) pits excavated in a grid pattern covering an area of 3Km by 1Km. The detailed investigation carried out in the area showed average silica content to be 94.63%, iron and titanium content showed 0.16% and 0.04% respectively, all within the tolerable limit for Ajaokuta Steel Plant.
"We also engaged in Exploration at the Mambilla Bauxite Resource in Taraba State. A total of 40 pits on Block 2A and 25 pits on Block 2C were excavated. Samples were collected and results from laboratory analysis show a lot of promise in the area. In the same vein, the agency carried out Reconnaissance Investigation at the Ohimini Bauxite Resource in Benue State. Samples were collected from the trenches and pits and taken to our laboratories for mineralogical analysis," the DG added.
The Achokpa Coal Resource in Igalamela-Odolu LGA of Kogi State where geological mapping and investigations were carried out is another project that has been vigorously pursued after pitting was commenced in 2023. Excavated pits of between 4.5m and 5.2m showed intersections of coal with samples collected and sent to the agency's lab for analysis. The Kumoyel Coal Resource is another high-potential resource.
Located in Bauchi State, a total no of five (5) exploratory wells have been excavated. Four of the wells are up to 20m in depth and one is 23m in depth where the coal was intercepted at Kumuyel village. Work continued at the other four wells in 2024 with the findings showing signs of a good outing.
"We are simultaneously pursuing several raw materials, and that is the beauty of our operations. That's because we have manpower across board. Apart from silica sand, coal, and bauxite, we also embarked on Limestone Resource Exploration at Jangargari-Kanje in Nasarawa State, Emiworo in Kogi State, and Oja Odan in Ogun State.
"A total of forty (40) pits were excavated with depths ranging from 2.0m to 4.5m and twenty (20) trenches were excavated with dimensions of 1m x 10m at Oja Odan axis. Twenty-one (21) samples were collected during the reconnaissance survey and the result of analysis showed calcium oxide ranging from 48% to 64.5%. Samples were collected from the detailed geological mapping and analysis was carried out as well," said Ogunbiyi.
Others are Oshokoshoko Iron Ore Resource in Kogi State, Manganese Resource Exploration at Akor in Cross River State, where core drilling was performed for sample collection, and Titanium Resource Exploration at Jaruwa, Kaduna State, as well as Chromite Exploration in places like Isanlu, South-West Nigeria.
"We have completed some of these projects, and I would not want to preempt our detailed 2024 report where we will provide details of the projects and the findings," he said.
