Mr Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, has said that the ministry will support local marble and granite tiles producers to reduce importation gap.

Fayemi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on a working visit to FUJIAN Stone Company Limited in Karu, Nasarawa State on Thursday.

He reiterated that the ministry would pay attention to value addition to mining companies in Nigeria that would support the ministry to achieve Mr President’s diversification plan.

He noted that the company which covered an area of 3,000 acres could only produce 200,000 square metres annually, creating huge gap opportunity for importation of marble and granite.

“Nigeria needs four million square metres of marble and granite annually; the bulk of tiles we are using in Nigeria are imported; the ministry will support this company to produce more.

“The Managing Director of the company said that averagely, the company is spending N10 million to buy diesel every month for the operation of the organisaton.

“This cost can be eliminated to bring down the production cost, and the cost of selling granite and marble tiles to end users,’’ he said.

According to him, stones for producing marble and granite tiles are found everywhere in different dimension and colours; we do not lack raw materials but we lack processing opportunity.

Earlier, Mr Makoji Aduku, the Managing Director, said FUJIAN was established in 2014 in partnership with Chinese investors and Onshore Frontier Limited of Nigeria.

He said the company processed and marketed the titles locally and Internationally, adding that its current production capacity was 1,000 square meters daily.

He said the company produced high quality of marble and granite tiles with surprising competitive prices.

The company has employed 67 skilled and unskilled Nigerians and 10 expatriates.

(NAN)