The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Winifred Oyo-Ita, on Friday lamented the rate at which the nation’s mineral resources, especially gemstone, are illegally exported from the country.

Oyo-Ita, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja, decried the way gemstones minerals were being smuggled out of the country in raw and semi polished forms by miners.

She called for more vigilance on the part of governments at all levels to curb the illegal exportation of minerals.

Gemstones are mineral commonly used for making jewelry and Nigeria has them in abundance.

Some of the popular gemstones available in Nigeria are sapphire, aquamarine, beryl, emerald, tourmaline, garnet, topaz, quartz, zircon and amethyst.

The gemstones can be found in Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Bauchi, Kauna, zamfara, Benue, Kwara, Oyo and parts of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Oyo – Ita further also lamented that that the gemstones market lack required regulation in the country.

“We are calling on government to enforce proper regulations on artisan miners and ensure that the laws are institutionalized,” stated.

“Nigeria is blessed with adequate mineral resources across the country; this is the time that we need to put in conscious effort to diversify our economy from crude oil to mineral resources,” she further observed.

The permanent secretary assured Nigerians that the current government has the will and determination to diversify the nation’s economy and appealed for more training for miners and youths on proper mining as well as cutting and polishing of gemstones.