By Martha Agas
The Gemstone Miners and Marketers Association of Nigeria (GMAN) has urged the Federal Government to simplify export procedures, tackle smuggling and promote local processing to unlock Nigeria’s $3 billion gemstone export potential.

GMAN President, Adeniran Ajibade, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

He spoke on the sidelines of the 11th Nigeria Mining Week, where stakeholders examined strategies for developing Nigeria’s gemstone value chains.

Ajibade said Nigeria possessed diverse, high-quality gemstones distributed across the country, with production largely dominated by artisanal and small-scale miners.

He said the sector could generate about $3 billion in trade, boost foreign exchange earnings and create employment opportunities for young Nigerians.

Ajibade noted that GMAN conducted a baseline study covering gemstone resources in northern and southern Nigeria, which confirmed their widespread distribution.

“It generates hard currency, so it will boost our foreign exchange earnings, and, of course, much of it may not be reflected because there is some very high level of smuggling,” he said.

Ajibade said Nigerian gemstones had gained recognition in international markets, including Tucson, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Israel and India, despite limited mechanisation and value addition.

He, however, said widespread smuggling made it difficult to determine the sector’s actual contribution to the economy.

The GMAN president called for government support for feasibility studies, local processing and branding to improve the quality, value and international competitiveness of Nigerian gemstones.

“Once we add value to it and we do the branding, definitely we can achieve great results for the nation,” he said.

Ajibade said the association was ready to collaborate with government and private investors to develop the sector and attract international gemstone and jewellery brands.

He said GMAN was collaborating with the Thailand Gem and Jewelry Traders Association and stakeholders from Brazil, India and Sri Lanka to exchange knowledge and expand market access.

He urged the government to involve industry operators in formulating export regulations, noting that miners and dealers understood the practical challenges facing the sector.

Ajibade said legitimate international buyers should be able to purchase Nigerian gemstones, repatriate their funds and export the stones through simple, transparent and efficient procedures.

He also called for the full activation of the International Gemstone Centre built by the Federal Government in Ibadan to serve as a hub for miners, dealers, investors and buyers.

Similarly, Prof. Akinade Olatunji, immediate past President of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society, advocated local processing to increase the economic benefits Nigeria derived from its gemstone resources.

Olatunji, a professor of Applied Geochemistry, said Nigeria had historically produced some of the world’s finest gemstones, particularly in Plateau and Nasarawa states.

He decried inadequate industry records, which he said had limited knowledge of the sector’s actual contribution to the national economy.

“Unfortunately, we don’t keep records. Now, if you look at the places where they have mined in this country, either in Oyo, Nasarawa, Plateau, or Kaduna states, we produced some of the best,” he said.

Olatunji urged Nigeria to strengthen domestic processing capacity instead of exporting rough gemstones to countries such as Thailand for cutting and polishing.

He said developing the local value chain would retain more economic benefits within Nigeria while creating employment opportunities for young people.

The professor also urged geology and mining engineering graduates to acquire practical field experience and pursue careers in the sector to support its sustainable development.

NAN reports that stakeholders made the recommendations during a panel session titled “Developing Nigeria’s Gemstone Value Chains” at the mining week.

They called for increased local processing, skills development and effective branding to strengthen the industry and create more jobs for Nigerians. (NAN)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo