Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has embarked on an aerial geophysical survey in Bauchi State to determine the location, geological information and data on mineral sites to enhance the diversification of the Nigerian economy.
The exercise comes under a Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification (MinDiver) Project, a World Bank-assisted project of the ministry, which is about to commence soon.
In a statement on Monday, the media officer of the Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification Project (Mindiver), Mr. Ishaku Kigbu said the exercise is to be carried out by an international consultant, Excalibur.
Kigbu said the exercise involved the use of yellow colour small aircraft fitted with aeromagnetic lenses to carry out aeromagnetic surveys in selected states of the federation, adding that in Bauchi State the survey would cover seven local government areas of Alkaleri, Bohoro, Bauchi, Dass, Jirgi, Radawa Bakwa and Toro.
The media officer, while recalling that full sensitization was earlier carried out in Bauchi State, re-emphasized that the activity is still ongoing, hence the state will experience the flying of these special aircraft at very low altitudes in repeated patterns to capture magnetic anomalies.
Kigbu said that the programme experienced overlaps due to weather conditions and logistical reasons, but has been progressing well since it started, saying the sensitization exercise is to re-sensitize the people of the state not to panic upon sighting the aircrafts.
He said: “The public may recall that the airborne geophysical mapping survey started in June 2021, and a robust sensitization and enlightenment campaign was carried out on the 19 states that were to be covered by the activity”.
