The Mining and Metals sector can easily become the largest employer of labour, the minister of Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bawa Bwari has said.

This was contained in the ministers speech at the ground breaking an foundation laying ceremony of Lead and Zinc processing plant in Tongyi, Ebonyi state yesterday.

“According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the Mining and Metals sector can easily become the largest employer of labour, since mineral deposits occur in virtually every part of Nigeria,”the minister said.

He however said for this to happen government must develop the downstream sector through beneficiation in order to increase profits dramatically, and provide more opportunities for employment in mining sites all over the country.

“We are therefore laying emphasis on industrialisation of mining processes as recommended by the African Mining Vision (AMV) whose Roadmap was adopted by the African heads of state in 2009.”

The minister said most of the revenue derived from the sector are through royalties and foreign exchange earnings from the exportation of our mineral resources. He said Tongyi remains one of the foremost exporters of lead zinc in Nigeria, which makes their desire to set up this Concentrate Plant most welcoming.