Federal Government of Nigeria is set to embark on airborne geophysical survey in 19 states, including the FCT. The survey aims to determine the accurate deposits of mineral resources across Nigeria using aeromagnetic mechanism.
The states to be covered by the survey are Kwara, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Ebonyi, Enugu, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna, Niger, Kogi, Taraba, Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Bauchi and the FCT.
Members of the public have been urged not to panic due to the loud noise of aircraft resulting from the low flying altitude or movement pattern.
This was disclosed in Akure by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Olamilekan Adegbite, during the flag-off exercise of the sensitisation programme in the South-West, Vanguard reported.
The Minister, who spoke through the Project Coordinator of Mindiver (World Bank) Project, Engr. Sallim Salaam, said the exercise will cover 112 local government areas across the country.
He said that the survey is scheduled to start in June, and will last for about eight months. He added that the survey of each state will last less than a month.
“It is slated to start this June 2021 and will run through a period of about eight months but less than a month over a state, depending on weather conditions.”
He said that informing the public is necessary to avoid misinformation and fear, considering the current security situation in the country.
The survey would be carried out through the World Bank assisted Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification (MINDIVER) Project, according to the Minister.
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He said that the survey of minerals in Nigeria is similar to the ones that took place in 2003 – 2007 and 2009 – 2011 and conducted in the entire country but remained largely unnoticed by most Nigerians.
The airborne survey activity will start from the Ilorin Airport in Kwara State, according to the minister.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
