By Jeremy Fregene
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has said that the administration of President Bola Tinubu met the nation’s solid minerals sector in a state of “blue murder,” where a powerful cabal of operators acted with impunity and disregard for national interest.
Speaking at the opening of the 10th edition of the Nigeria Mining Week yesterday in Abuja, Alake said the government has since restored sanity, transparency, and accountability in the industry. The three-day event, themed “Nigeria Mining: From Progress to Global Relevance,” brought together policymakers, investors, and industry stakeholders to chart the future of Nigeria’s mineral economy.
According to the minister, the Tinubu administration inherited a sector “deeply infiltrated by operators who ignored environmental regulations, defaulted in payment of statutory fees, and evaded government oversight.” He said, “They got away with what we can only describe as blue murder until this administration came in and made it clear that it would no longer be business as usual — there is a new sheriff in town.”
Alake said the government’s determination to reposition the solid minerals sector was rooted in the President’s vision to diversify Nigeria’s economy away from dependence on oil and harness the nation’s abundant mineral resources. “The solid mineral sector is the next jugular of Nigeria’s economy,” he said, adding that the global shift towards green energy has created enormous opportunities for countries with rich deposits of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
He disclosed that several reforms had been introduced to ensure the sector becomes a major contributor to national revenue. These include digitising mineral licensing processes, enforcing environmental compliance, and curbing illegal mining operations. “Our digitisation drive has made the licensing process transparent and efficient, eliminating racketeering and middlemen,” he said.
The minister announced that the solid minerals sector contributed 4.61 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP in the second quarter of 2025 — its highest in over a decade. “From all available evidence, our policies are working, but we could not have achieved this without the cooperation of our stakeholders,” he said.
Alake also unveiled two new funding initiatives designed to stimulate exploration and attract private investment. “We are introducing a Solid Minerals Development Fund high-impact mineral exploration programme. It is a grant-based initiative that will provide financial and technical support to those exploring for minerals in Nigeria,” he said.
The minister described the policy as a practical step towards deepening Nigeria’s capacity for mineral discovery and value addition. “We are not just content with exporting raw materials; we are building the foundation for beneficiation, processing, and industrialisation,” he added.
In his remarks, the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar, emphasised the interdependence between the steel and mining sectors, describing the former as “a major driver of mineral-based industrial growth.” He said that for Nigeria to achieve global competitiveness, the steel industry must be revitalised through a steady supply of mineral raw materials such as iron ore, coal, and fluxes. “The steel sector must be seen as a key partner and off-taker in the value chain of solid minerals development,” he stated.
Abubakar said the ministry was already working to attract more foreign direct investment into the steel industry, noting that robust business engagement and policy alignment would ensure sustainable growth. “Our goal is to make Nigerian steel globally relevant through value addition, technology adoption, and investment-driven reforms,” he said.
Earlier, the National President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Dele Ayankele, said the annual Mining Week had been pivotal in shaping conversations and policies that advanced the sector over the last decade. “Through the instrumentality of the Mining Week, we have seen increased exploration activities, the growth of artisanal and small-scale mining, and the emergence of large-scale operations,” he said.
Ayankele urged participants to seize the opportunities for business partnerships, knowledge exchange, and global collaboration. “The 10th anniversary of the Nigeria Mining Week is not just a celebration but a launchpad for the next decade of innovation and prosperity in Nigeria’s mining sector,” he noted.
The event, which runs from October 13 to 15, is jointly organised by the Miners Association of Nigeria in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the VUKA Group.