Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has hinted that gold mining activities and sales in the state will be properly organised to increase revenue generation for the state.
The governor stated this at the groundbreaking of the gold market named after him and sited within the Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure Ultra Modern Market, Minna.
The multi-billion-naira Mohammed Umaru Bago International Gold Market was built by Al-istiqama Integrated Services LTD in collaboration with the Niger State government.
He disclosed that the daily sales of gold in the market were on average N1.2 billion and observed that the government does not benefit from the huge sales.
Governor Bago said the decision to get involved was to register and take inventories of gold sellers to enable the government to identify legitimate dealers.
He also disclosed that the creation of the market will help in addressing illegal gold mining in the state, adding that similar markets will subsequently be constructed in Bida, Kontagora, Suleja, and Borgu, while Kuta and Kagara will also follow suit.
Earlier, the chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Council, Aminu Ladan, said the project, when completed, will boost economic activities in the state and pave the way for new businesses to grow in the market.
He disclosed that over 150 youths have already been engaged in the project.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman of Al-istiqama Integrated Services Ltd., Ibrahim Shaibu Dankaka, and the Managing Director, Nasiru Sa'id Nasidi, said the project was initiated to key into the "New Niger" agenda of the present administration.
The company is expected to construct two blocks of shops in the market for gold sellers, a bank, and a restaurant, adding that some youths were already engaged in the project.