The dwindling economy in Nigeria due to the fall in oil revenue has necessitated the Abia state government to explore other means of revenue generation in the state. Solid minerals is one the areas Abia State government is looking at to increase its internally generated revenue and hence the need for public private partnership ( PPP ). The state government believes that properly articulated private sector driven exploration and exploitation activities will enhance the sourcing of internally generated revenue.
The Abia State government through the ministry of environment and solid minerals development, headed by Honourable Gab Igboko kick started the process of public private partnership by signing a concession agreement with a private consulting firm, Mummy Mummy Farms Ltd ( Redsticks Integrated Services Ltd). This concession agreement between Abia State government and Mummy Mummy Farms Ltd marked a new beginning in the internally generated revenue of Abia State, by setting a new yearly record of IGR which has never been heard of in the history of the state internally generated revenue in the solid mineral sector.
Mummy Mummy Farms Ltd, in conjunction with Ministry of Mines and steel development is building a comprehensive data base of all the quarry sites, burrow pits and sand dredging sites across the state. In the seventeen local government areas of the state over fifty quarry sites, burrow pits and dredging sites have been identified while more will still be identified in the near future.
PICTORIAL REPRESENTATION OF THE IDENTIFIED SITES IN ABIA STATE
However, the federal government is not left out in this epic and laudable giant stride in the solid minerals development in Abia State and Nigeria in general. The recent visit of the REVENUE MOBILIZATION ALLOCATION AND FISCAL COMMISSION to Abia State on the nationwide monitoring exercise on royalty collections and activities of minerals at the state and local government councils 2009-2015, was a huge success and an indication of a good working relationship between the Federal government and Abia state in mineral development. This synergy, if properly articulated and sustained will help Abia State in its internally generated revenue (IGR). Unarguably, Mum Projects is doing a commendable job of revenue collection in solid mineral, hence the management of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission has promised to work with them. This is indeed a new dawn in the history of internally generated revenue in Abia State.
