The Federal Government has unveiled an inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer, ICP-MS instrument for analytical research and technological breakthrough in the nation’s mining industry.
Unveiling the instrument in Abuja, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake said the move would enhance development in the sector.
The Minister represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mary Ogbe explained both domestic and international inventors would find the instrument helpful as it is critical to technological and analytical researches.
“The Ministry is commissioning, yet another very critical facility, the ICP-MS Laboratory. An ICP-MS instrument is a type of analytical device used to measure the elemental composition of a sample by ionizing the elements within it using a high-temperature plasma, typically generated by argon gas” Dr. Alake stated.
“ICP-MS instrument has the ability to identify and quantify elements in a sample with high sensitivity. It can detect and measure trace elements at very low concentrations in liquid samples across various fields” the Minister emphasized.
As I stand before you here feeling delighted to commission such a highly needed analytical laboratory, the first of its kind in the country, I am also convinced that, the investment community, both international and local as well as our university researchers in the mineral sector will find this laboratory useful and timely”
“Other users and beneficiaries of this laboratory such as those in the material science field, environmental monitoring, clinical research, food analysis, forensic experts as well as the ministry of Defense will also find this lab very helpful in carrying out their various activities” Dr. Alake stressed.
Dr. Alake called on all stakeholders to take full advantage of the ICP-MS lab by bringing samples for analysis.
The Ministry has an ambitious plan to begin the process of comparison of results of the NGSA ICP-MS lab with that of other internationally accredited labs, which upon satisfaction will commence the full process of having the ICP-MS and other Laboratories of NGSA Accredited and Certified” he noted.
Earlier, the Director General of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, Professor Olusegun Ige said the unveiling of the instrument would also offer the country huge savings in foreign exchange from the analysis of minerals and rock materials locally.
According to Professor Ige, the Agency is strengthening focus and resolve to generate qualitative data that will meet the requirements of all the relevant stakeholders in the sector.
In his goodwill message, the President of Miners Association of Nigeria, Dele Ayanleke who commended the NGSA for this landmark achievement stressed that the Commissioning of the instrument would improve the nation’s image in the international community and conserved lot of foreign exchange for the country.
There were lot of presentation from the stakeholders in the sector, Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office, National Metallurgical Development Center among others.
