Don advises FG to stop some raw minerals export

Prof. Benjamin Adewuyi, former President, Nigerian Metallurgical Society has advised the Federal Government to stop the exportation of some precious minerals in their raw form.

Adewuyi gave the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said some of the precious minerals which included Nickel, gold, tin ores had other minerals embedded or hidden in them, adding that this could only be detected when refined.

“Some of these minerals are special in nature, they have additional two to three minerals ores in them and this can only be discovered if refined locally before exporting them.

“The foreigners that are buying our minerals in raw forms know what they are gaining, they buy our minerals at cheap rates, take them out, refine and return them back to Nigeria and sell to us at exorbitant rates.

“We are selling our raw minerals to them to empower their economy, create job for their youths; which means we are giving  away our resources and wealth,” he said.

According to him, refining our raw minerals locally before export can be achieved if there is a political will and a vibrant metallurgical sector put in place.

-NAN