A bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geo-sciences has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

When passed into law, the bill would open the Nigerian mining sector with a view to creating additional revenue sources for the country.

The bill, sponsored by Rep Suleiman Yahaya Kwande (APC, Plateau), seeks to provide an alternative to crude oil that Nigeria has relied on over the years.

Leading debate on the bill, Kwande said both public and private sectors would benefit from the bill if passed into law, adding that in view of the fall in the country’s revenue, it was time to find an alternative.

He said Nigeria was endowed with hundreds of mineral resources such as cassiterite, columbite, barite, gysum, bitumen, coal, which he said have been untapped.

The institute, to be established in Jos, Plateau State capital, would admit interested individuals to undergo special training on mining before venturing into the field.

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Suleiman Kwande sponsors bill to create mining institute in Jos