By Timipah Orusa
The Bayelsa State Coordinating Office of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has initiated a strategic collaboration with the State Ministry of Mineral Resources to unlock the economic potential of the state’s untapped solid minerals through modern processing techniques.
The meeting, which held on Friday, August 15, 2025, at the Office of the Honourable Commissioner, Annex 5, State Secretariat Complex, Yenagoa, sought to strengthen institutional collaboration aimed at promoting the development, processing, and value addition of raw mineral materials for industrial growth and economic diversification.
The State Coordinator of RMRDC, Mr Timipah Orusa led the Council’s delegation and expressed appreciation to the Honourable Commissioner for granting the audience. He emphasized that this was the first of such engagements between both parties and highlighted the significance of establishing a working relationship focused on raw materials development, particularly in the underexplored mineral sector.
He reiterated the Council’s national mandate to support industrial development by facilitating the optimal utilization of local raw materials as industrial inputs. “Our mission includes collaborating with relevant stakeholders to drive innovation, promote value addition, and support indigenous technologies developed within the state,” he said.
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Mr. Orusa stressed that while Nigeria is richly endowed with energy, metallic, and industrial minerals, the majority remain underexploited or are exported in raw form, without value addition. This, he noted, is a missed opportunity for job creation and industrial development.
Highlighting the need for sustainable development in the face of global challenges including food insecurity and economic volatility he called for a shift toward modern mineral processing to enhance economic diversification. “Bayelsa must look beyond oil. Value-added mineral processing will not only create wealth but will also position the state as a hub for industrial innovation,” Orusa stated.
In his response, Hon. Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Barr. Peter Afagha, welcomed the partnership initiative and commended RMRDC for its proactive approach to collaboration. He acknowledged the enormous mineral potential of Bayelsa State, noting the presence of silica sand, clay, gypsum, lead/zinc, limestone, lignite, manganese, and uranium in various parts of the state.
“Bayelsa is often seen solely through the lens of crude oil. But we possess a wealth of other high-value minerals that have not been fully explored or harnessed. This collaboration with RMRDC is timely, and it will increase the ministry’s capacity to unlock these resources for the benefit of the state,” he said.
The Commissioner further noted that the Ministry also undertakes Research and Development (R&D) initiatives and welcomes technical partnerships to accelerate product development, despite challenges such as limited funding.
A participant at the meeting, Mr. Inogonim Kaka emphasized that RMRDC could assist investors in the state to process raw minerals into finished products, while Engr. Simon Mathias spoke on the potential of reverse engineering in clay processing and noted the Ministry’s interest in advancing R&D despite limited resources.
Engr. Bideke Patrick added that the abundance of silica sand and clay in the state could support the establishment of both glass and ceramic industries. He called for RMRDC’s technical collaboration in setting up such value-adding ventures to serve as alternative revenue sources beyond petroleum.
At the close of the meeting, both parties agreed for a strategic collaboration with a focus on value addition to drive economic growth.; technology deployment through RMRDC supporting the introduction of appropriate, modern mineral processing technologies aimed at sustainable development, and job creation; and a field assessment to be undertaken by RMRDC on-the-spot visits to various local government areas to assess the locations and quality of mineral deposits across the state.
