By Yakubu LAAH InvestAdvocate

Lagos (INVESTADVOCATE)-The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has commended the Dangote Group on its skills in the mining of raw materials for its cement production.

According to a Statement from the Dangote Group and made available to InvestAdvocate over the weekend, Musa Mohammad Sada, Minister of Mines and Steel Development made this commendation at the second Miners Stakeholders Forum 2013 held last week in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Minister commended the Dangote Group for satisfactory and skilful mining of raw material for the Group’s cement plants in Nigeria.

’’The Dangote mining operation is the best in the country because it strictly adheres to global best practice, and has met all the requirement expected of it by the mining laws and policies of the Federal Government’’ Sada said.

According to the Minister, Dangote’s mining business is a success because it uses new technology and does it skilfully by turning the raw material into real value putting into consideration the people and the environment. ’’That is why Dangote is so much respected everywhere in the country,” the Minister said.

He affirmed that its always better that mining operations are in the hands of Nigerians, ’’only Nigerians can develop Nigeria.” Sada said.

On his part, Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group represented by Joseph Makoju, Executive Director (ED) of the Group  said at its present installed cement production capacity, the Group potentially requires about 32 MMt of quarried material to operate at optimum output, making it the largest mining company” in Nigeria.

“At Ibese, the limestone characteristics allow us to avoid blasting through the use of surface mining technology. The equipment used is highly sophisticated and we are the only cement company in Nigeria (and possibly in Africa) using this technology. The absence of blasting means there is no vibration and the ecosystem is not disturbed.” Makoju said.

Makoju further affirmed that Dangote cement has intensified it Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes in the communities hosting its mining operations.

Sani Shehu, President of the Miners Association commended the Dangote Group for supporting the Forum and for the development of mining business in Nigeria.

The Stakeholders Forum organized by the Miners Association of Nigeria has Dangote Group as the major sponsor.