By Akombo Aondona, Abuja
National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC) Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and member, APC National Working Committee (NWC), Hon. Tolu Bankole, has said the Presidency of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would record a complete metamorphosis of the mining sector of the economy, which would unlock the potential of the sector for the prosperity of millions of Nigerians and national development.
Consequently, he urged Nigerians to vote Tinubu for president.
Bankole, in a statement on Thursday 10 November, 2022 in Abuja made available to The Dream Daily, said the solid minerals section of Tinubu’s policy document was a game changer for the Nigerian economy, which would bring out the wealth in mining for the benefit of Nigerians at the grassroots and improved revenue for government.
Bankole wrote: “Our government will make it a priority to encourage industries vital to national development. This means growing our industrial base to provide jobs to an expanding urban population.
“Through the development of an industrial development master plan, we will:
(i) Extend tax and other credits as well as urban youth employment incentives to domestic manufacturing entities. Tariffs and other measures will be implemented to safeguard such industries.
“(ii) Encourage domestic manufacturers and producers to add value to basic products thus promoting value-added industry and production. These incentives will include lower import tariffs on semimanufactured goods production lines such as the automotive and IT industries.
(iii) Develop major and minor industrial hubs in each geopolitical zone.
(iv) Promote IT to boost industrial creativity while spurring the financial inclusion of larger segments of the population by encouraging greater use of innovative new technologies.
(v) Provide Tax credits, holidays and reduce interest rate loans to businesses that hire a certain percent of youth in their workforce and provide genuine on-the-job training and mentoring for their young employees.”
Bankole continued: “In the North West and North East, new industrial hubs will focus on textiles. In the South East and South South, a new hub and dry port will focus investment on labour intensive manufacturing.
“In the South West, fine quality sand will be turned into the highest-quality glass items.
“In areas with deposits of clay, household items such as dishes and pottery will be manufactured.
“In the North Central, emphasis will be placed on solid mineral exploration and exploitation.
“In the North West and North Central, clandestine, environmentally harmful unlicensed gold mining activities will be ended. Regulated mining will be instituted such that environmental protection is maintained and local artisans and craftsmen can earn income turning raw gold into finished jewellery.
“If voted into government, multinationals and local investors will be encouraged to come into the sector. Needed support will be provided by Government. All legislations that should be amended for the effective exploration of mining in Nigeria will be done in due collaboration with state and National Assembly
“Mistakes of the current degrading ecological practices in the oil-producing areas of the country will not be repeated.
“A vote for APC and by extension Tinubu/Shettima in 2023 is a vote for bold and right leadership. A vote for increase revenue and opportunities via efficient latest technology-driven solid minerals development across Nigeria,” Bankole concluded.
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