Edo State Commissioner for Mining, Hon. Andrew Ijegba, has announced the state government’s readiness to partner with genuine and transparent investors, noting that the proactive approach has already attracted significant interest.
He urged visiting firms to expedite their investment decisions to enable the commencement of exploration and extraction activities that will unlock the full economic potential of host communities.
Ijegba made the statement while leading a delegation of investors on an exploration tour of key mineral-rich communities in Akoko-Edo and Owan East Local Government Areas.
The tour focused on assessing deposits of limestone, granite, lithium, and coal—critical resources for industrial development and energy projects in the state. The team visited strategic locations in Ikpeshi and Ibillo in Akoko-Edo, as well as Igue-Oke and Afuze in Owan East.
Reinforcing the Commissioner’s remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Mining, Mrs. Ese Martina Omoruyi, highlighted Edo State’s comparative advantage, particularly its substantial limestone reserves.
She emphasized the importance of harnessing these resources responsibly to drive industrialization and ensure long-term benefits for host communities and the state.
Speaking during the site inspection, the investors’ spokesperson, Mr. Kingsley Ogbor, expressed appreciation to the state government for granting access to the sites. He reaffirmed their interest in the sector, noting that their geologists were already collecting samples for laboratory analysis to determine the commercial viability of the minerals.
The tour concluded on a positive note, with preliminary assessments from the geologists indicating promising signs of both quality and quantity across several inspected sites.
The Ministry affirmed its commitment to supporting credible investors through a transparent and mutually beneficial partnership framework aligned with the state government’s development agenda.
