The Project Coordinator, Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources Project (SMMRP) Mr. Linus Adie has cited a World Bank study on Nigerian Dimension Stones (Granite and Marble) sector as capable of producing 1 million jobs in a short time, while cutting the high production cost of tiles in Nigeria by 100 Meanwhile the newly appointed Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arch. Musa Muhammad Sada said the Ministry would upgrade its website with very rich materials that would convinced foreign investors to take the juicy opportunity that the sector offers. The Head, Press and Public Relation Unit of the Ministry, Nr. Marshall Gundu made this known in a Pre4ss Statement yesterday Adie who spoke on the world Bank study, made this known in Abuja last week at parley with meeting Nigerian Dimension Stone investors, after which the Nigerian Dimension Stone Association of Nigeria was formed. His words: "We are told that the stone industry is capable of providing over one million job in Nigeria. And that is what the project and the ministry is looking at. " We are told that Nigeria can be self-sufficient in marble and granite products. We are told that in sharpening the manpower in this country Nigeria can also be self sufficient in the required manpower to drive this industry. " We are told that because of your product can cut cost by 100%." , he said He lamented that Nigeria Spends billions of Naira in importing substandard granite and marble tiles in Nigeria to the disadvantage of the stone industry here "We have far higher quality products in Nigeria", he said, "but the cost of production is so high that at the end, many cannot afford them", he said He then informed the Association about the Carrara Marmotetic Stone Fair in Italy in May this year. According to him, that Fair is the best and biggest in the world and world afford members to meet investors, financiers and equipment makers with the view of forging enduring partnership. "The expected outcome is that some of you will be coming back with investors to help you develop the industry", he said. The stakeholders after deliberating on the sector, agreed that there was a need to form themselves into an Association as one of the means of growing the industry. An election was then conducted for protem officer from which, the Group President of Rich Group of companies, Alhaji Kabir Umar emerged president with Mrs. Vivian Wya of the Ministry of Finance as the Vice President. The Minister on his part enthused about propelling Nigeria"s drive for investors into the Mineral and Metal sector of Nigeria via the Internet when he paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Kastina State, Ibrahim Shema yesterday, according to Gundu. "Arch. Sada explained that through this strategy, prospective investors would have seamless and fast business transactions with the Ministry thereby resulting to the much desired development of the sector", reads part of the statemen.