Yobe Sets Stage for Mining Boom to Transform Economy Through Strategic Partnerships

Yobe State Government has declared its intention to fully harness its vast solid minerals potential, identifying the sector as a new cornerstone for industrial growth and job creation.

The pledge was made at a one-day Mining Stakeholders Forum organized by the Yobe State Mining Development Company Limited (YMDC). The event, held at the Government House in Damaturu under the theme "Building Strategic Partnership for Sustainable Mining and Industrial Growth," brought together government officials, industry leaders, and community stakeholders.

Declaring the forum open, Governor Mai Mala Buni stated that the gathering marks a new chapter in the state's economic diversification and industrial transformation.

He lamented that despite being richly endowed with mineral resources such as limestone, gypsum, kaolin, granite, quartz, and silica,these gifts of nature have remained largely untapped and underutilized for decades.

"The time has come to turn this hidden potential into productive assets that will create jobs, generate wealth, and advance the socio-economic development of our people," Governor Buni declared. 

He emphasized that the forum was a strategic convergence of minds and mandates aimed at ensuring community engagement, attracting credible investors, and operating within a transparent regulatory framework.

On his part,the state Commissioner of Commerce, Industries, and Tourism, Kaigama Umar Yunusari, revealed the staggering scale of Yobe's mineral wealth. 

He announced that the state is endowed with no fewer than 2,685 mineral resources, many of which remain unexplored.

"If effectively developed, these minerals will not only create massive employment opportunities but also strengthen our industrial base, attract foreign direct investment, and greatly improve the internally generated revenue of the state," Commissioner Yunusari said.

Earlier,the Managing Director of the Yobe Mining Development Company Limited, Engineer Bamodu Yerima, outlined the company's role as the engine for this transformation. 

He stated that the YMDC, established as a global mineral enterprise, has a clear mandate to drive exploration, resuscitation, and development in the solid minerals sector and to catalyze the growth of mineral-based industries.

The forum concluded with a shared resolve to build a mining sector that prioritizes sustainability, community benefits, and strong public-private partnerships, signaling Yobe State's readiness to become a major player in Nigeria's mining landscape.