The Federal Government's quest to increase revenue generation from non-oil sector got a boost yesterday when it set up a National Institute of Solid Minerals in Nasarawa State to process and export the minerals in the state.

Speaking at the formal commencement of the institute in Nasarawa town yesterday, Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State said when the institute is fully operational, it would earn billions of dollars for the country through export of numerous solid minerals found in the state.

According to Governor Al-Makura, who was represented by the state commissioner for science and technology, Mr Samuel Meshi, the institute would also provide jobs for the people and help SMEs in setting up mining related business.

Earlier while handing over take off site for the Solid Minerals Institute to National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the federal government agency that would provide mining equipment and machines for the institute, the governor promised that the state would pay the institute staffs' salaries for the next one year before the burden falls on the federal government.

He said the institute is the result of the recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with NASENI in a bid to making Nasarawa State more economically viable via its abundant mineral resources.