By Palma Ileye
Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, NGSA, has commenced the engagement of the academia on the ongoing production of the first lithostructural map of Nigeria.
These effort is aimed at enriching the map to ensure that it meets the lithostructural needs of both mining industry investors and the academia toward facilitating mineral exploration for national economic diversification.
Director-General, NGSA, Dr. Garba Abdulrazaq who spoke in Abuja, during the final peer review of the lithostructural map (copies of which had been studied by mineral sector professionals in the academia), said the agency has embarked on many activities in recent time in order to maximize the realization of set goals, stating that the map, when reviewed and put to use, will serve as a reliable tool that will yield information needed for mineral exploration in Nigeria.
According to the Garba, the map will also play a fundamental role in helping to understand the geology of Nigeria.
Discussing the relevance of the map to set goals, the Director General said: “This time, we are trying to match what we are doing with the economic diversification agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” stating that the NGSA is committed to producing tools that will be useful to industry operators.
Garba, who had served as NGSA Director of Economic Geology Department before his appointment as Director General recalled some of the challenges encountered, saying: “As Director of Economic Geology, there were may challenges,” adding that “the summary of feedback we get from industry operators is that our reports are too academic, so when I came on board, I tried to adjust to the needs of the industry.”
“We sat down and came up with some strategies, including what later became the National Integrated Mineral Exploration Project, NIMEP – one of the projects that has made the ministry proud.”
Dr. Garba expressed delight that an increasing number of mining investors are interested in the datasets produced by the the NIMEP Project, adding that the NIMEP report continues to attract both junior and senor mining companies across the world.
He disclosed that the agency has also began to produce thematic contents as well as embarked on the production of highly resourceful publications, adding that the agency currently awaits more feedback from reviewers.
While saying that the lithostructural map, which scale is 1: 2000000 will be ready before the next Nigeria Mining Week, he assured that other efforts of the agency to provide reliable geoscience data will be sustained.
“So, we have brought a crop of assessors and we have sent the map to assessors for their critique with a view of ensuring conformity to standards,” he said, adding that the Agency brought on board as an assessor, a globally recognized Competent Person, Dr. Warwick Crowe who understands the geology of Nigeria and has vast experience having worked with some reputable mining companies.
“We brought Crowe on board to meet international standards,” he said, adding that Crowe will impart knowledge on staff of the agency.
The assessors also include some geologists of renown in the academia among who are Prof. Sunny Nwajide, Prof. Uriah Lar, Prof. Umar Adamu Danbatta, Prof Sola Ojo, Prof Taver Najime, Prof Nuhu Obaje and Prof M. B. Abubakar among others.
Garba said: “We want our assessors and the academia to critically assess the maps because it will become a national product that will be presented to global investors who need information on minerals in Nigeria.”
The Director General, who also disclosed that the NGSA has collaborated with Curtain University, Australia, said the collaboration was on geo-chrononology and age dating of rocks and minerals in Nigeria.
The DG acknowledged the efforts of Mrs Bola Akinwande, Director, National Geoscience Information Centre, NGIC, of the NGSA; Mr. Pade Davis, Director, Regional Geology Department; Mrs Grace Okpala, Director, Geoscience, Planning and Information Technology, GPI; Mr. Robert Iya, Director, Hydro and Engineering Geology; Mr. Umar Bature, Director, Economic Geology Department, and other members of the NGSA Management.
Professor of Geology who is Chairman of the Review Team, Sunny Nwajide, commended the management of the Agency for the effort to evolve the lithostructural map of Nigeria. Nwajide, who recalled that he began his working career at the then Geological Survey of Nigeria in 1971, said the invitation is a homecoming for him. “It is a kind of continuing effort to contribute to the progress of the Geological Survey of Nigeria,” he said, adding that the provision of the map is one of the major tasks of the Geological Survey.
“The task is completely new and I am delighted to be part of it,” he added.
Professor Uriah Lar of the Department of Geology, University of Jos also commended the NGSA for the set goal. He said the production of the lithrostrctural map by the NGSA is a great goal that will earn great pride for the Nigerian mining sector in the committee of nations, stating that Cote d’Ivoire and some other African countries have been doing a lot to produce lithostructural maps for their respective countries.
Commenting on the significance of the map, Lar, who is a Professor of Geology, said: “When u have a good lithostructural map, you efforts in exploration becomes very easy,” adding that so much is being achieved in the Geological Survey as a result of the foresight of the Dr Garba Abdulrazaq-led management of the agency.
Professor Shola Ojo, who corroborated the position of Professor Lar said: “This is a great effort and I commend the Director General for the courage.” While saying that “Dr. Garba is modernizing and building on information,” he commended the Agency for bringing new things on board stating that it is a courageous thing to embark on peer review.
In likewise manner, Mohamed Abubakar, Professor of Geology at the Abubakar Tafawa Balwea University, ATBU, Bauchi said: “This is highly commendable and I will do my best.”
Professor Umar Dambatta of the Department of Geology, ABU Zaria said: “The map was wonderful, I am very impressed and we will review to update and correct it,” he said, stating that “NGSA has written its name in gold.”
