 The river state governor Yesom Wieke has proposed that the federating units in Nigeria should be allowed to develop and operate their respective minerals and pay royalties to the federal government. It said this has become pertinent because the federal government, which unilaterally controls the country's rich mineral endowment, has failed to translate the mineral wealth into overall economic development. Governor Wieke made his assertion when the Minister of State for Mind and Steel's Development, Ucheichuku Ogre, paid a katsik call at the government house in Port Haged. The governor said that in order for the country to benefit from its vast mineral endowment, the federal government should concentrate on the formulation of policies that will facilitate an improvement in the governance of the mining sector to improve the social welfare of the citizens. The federal government is very true in terms of the president's revenue from any country. So our over-emphasis on oil has reduced our impact on the mineral and other minerals. Almost. The fragment is carrying so much load that it's not supposed to carry. Our last test to develop these minerals and pay royalties to the federal government, that is what it's supposed to be. The Minister of State for Mind and Steel's Development told the governor that he was in the state to share with him the vision and policy focus of the federal government for the development of the nation's solid mineral resources. For us to see how we can collaborate, how we can work together, for us to harness the potentials. In River State we have the silica sand for the making of glasses, we have the sand dredging activities, we have the deep sea salt, which can be developed. All these things aggregate helps in development of any nation's economy. And we believe that when these things are put together, they will in no way, they will help immensely in development of the nation's economy. Governor Wikila mentioned that despite the possibility of the Jakuta Steel Company project generating huge revenues for the country and creating not less than 3,000 jobs, the federal government for political reasons has failed to actualize the country's aspiration to become a major player in the global steel industry. The governor however declared that the River State government is prepared to collaborate with the federal government to develop the mineral sector of the country.