The Nigerian Senate has approved a bill to establish the Federal University of Mining and Geo-Science in Jos, Plateau State, replacing the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geo-Science Act of 2018.
The upper chamber passed the bill after reviewing a report presented by Muntari Dandutse, Chairperson of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND. Dandutse highlighted widespread stakeholder support for the university’s establishment during the public hearing, which included representatives from the mining sector and traditional rulers from Plateau State.
Sponsored by Senator Diket Plang (APC, Plateau Central), the bill aims to deepen Nigeria’s expertise in mining and mineral exploration. Plang emphasised the strategic importance of establishing the university, citing Nigeria’s abundant mineral resources and the need to build local capacity for their sustainable exploitation.
“This bill provides an opportunity for Nigerians to gain deeper knowledge of mining and geo-sciences, enabling them to explore and utilise our God-given resources effectively,” he said.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio celebrated the passage of the bill, describing the move as a step towards diversifying Nigeria’s revenue sources through mining.
“I congratulate Nigerians on this milestone. Mining is a significant revenue source, and this Senate is taking the right direction by focusing on education and capacity-building in this sector,” Akpabio stated.
The bill will now proceed to the House of Representatives for concurrence. If enacted, the university is expected to drive innovation, improve local expertise, and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth.
