Nigeria’s solid minerals sector is set to become a key driver of economic diversification, job creation, and national prosperity.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake made this declaration at the Ministerial two days Retreat themed “Enhancing Performance, Strengthening Accountability, and Fostering Innovation in the Solid Minerals Sector” in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Dr. Alake emphasised the need for a paradigm shift, stating,
“The era of business-as-usual is over. On excellence, we must neither fail nor falter. Our Ministry is now a model for service delivery, but this is not just an award to display, it’s a call to deliver.”
He highlighted significant milestones achieved under President Tinubu’s administration, including the creation of the Nigerian Solid Minerals Development framework, a historic ₦1 trillion exploration budget to bridge Nigeria’s mineral data gap; and the launch of the Mining Marshals, a dedicated 2,350-member task force cracking down on illegal mining.
“In 2023, we generated ₦6 billion from mining licences. By 2024, it rose to ₦12.58 billion. Royalties doubled to ₦36.8 billion. We have formalised over 300 artisanal cooperatives to drive legal mining. These figures prove that commitment delivers results,” Dr. Alake said.
The Minister urged senior officials to seize the moment: “The global energy transition is redrawing mining value chains. Nigeria must not be left behind. The era of business as usual is over; our charge is clear: deliver results for the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Dr. Alake concluded, “We are building the future, not just managing the present.”
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Senator Ekong Sampson pledged legislative support for the sector’s growth.
Senator Sampson emphasised the sector’s potential to diversify the economy, create jobs, and earn foreign exchange.
“From gold to lithium, bitumen to coal, our minerals hold the key to unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential,” he said. “We are ready to provide the legislative framework to make it happen.”
Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Jonathan Gbefwi, highlighted the sector’s remarkable progress.
“In less than two years, we moved from $6 billion to $38 billion in revenue and attracted over $800 billion in foreign direct investment,” Gbefwi noted.
He lauded the creation of the Nigerian Solid Minerals Development Company as a masterstroke, citing Norway’s oil success story as a potential model for replication.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Engr. Yabo Yusuf, attributed the Ministry’s Service Excellence award to teamwork and dedication. “This award shows what we can achieve when we put our shoulders to the wheel,” Engr. Yusuf said. “Our job now is to turn this momentum into measurable results for the Nigerian people.”
The Director-General of the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office, Engr. Obadiah Nkom, described the Ministerial Retreat as a moment of rebirth for the sector. “‘Retreat’ means we want to make things better,” Nkom said.
“Apart from the wealth beneath our feet, our capacity is the real wealth. By the time we leave here, we must be recharged and ready to deliver a sector that attracts investors and transforms communities.” The Director General noted.
Victoria Ibanga