The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) has encouraged the local and international community of mineral sector professionals, investors, policy makers, mining enthusiasts, the academics and general public to visit the web portal of the Agency (www.ngsa.gov.ng) for highly resourceful geoscience data on Nigeria.
Director-General of the Agency, Professor Olusegun Omoniyi Ige who spoke at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, commended the World Bank-assisted Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification (MinDiver) project, saying that it contributed significantly to the effort of government to provide geoscience data on minerals in the country.
He said in line with the mandate of the NGSA, which is to provide credible geoscience data (otherwise known as geological information on minerals) in Nigeria, the Agency has uploaded reliable geosciences data on its web portal, assuring adding that the information is accessible online at the data stockroom of the National Geodata Development Centre (NGDC) of the NGSA.
He stated: “In uploading geosciences data to the online stockroom of the National Geodata Development Centre (NGDC) of the NGSA, we placed premium on the geoscience data generated through the World Bank-assisted Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification,” adding that it includes geophysical data, geochemical data and topographical data.
He however pointed out that the National Geodata Development Centre does not only accommodate the geosciences data generated through the MinDiver support, but also serves as a dedicated platform where the “Agency archives all its geosciences data, including the data generated before the current time, and data that will be generated later.”
While saying that the Agency had presented the mineral datasets to relevant institutional stakeholders including World Bank officials, Prof Ige expressed delight that the stakeholders applauded the integrity of the data.
According to him, “the mandate of the NGSA is to generate geosciences data in a professional and systematic manner,” adding that the Agency put into consideration best practices guiding the generation of geosciences data.
The Director General assured that in line with the mandate of the Agency, it will place reliable information on solid minerals in Nigeria at the finger tip of enquirer in Nigeria and around the world, reiterating that they are however enjoined to access relevant information through the website of the Agency.
“The NGSA wishes to commend the various stakeholders who supported Nigeria in its bid to develop geosciences data. In this regard, we thank the World Bank assisted Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification (MinDiver), a project that facilitated realization of the government’s economic diversification agenda through development of the mining sector.”
“We are happy that the geosciences data generated by the NGSA has been applauded by the World Band and international community.”
