Solid Minerals Development Minister Assures of More Economic Impact from the Sector
By Patience Chat Moses
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s vision of diversifying the nation’s economy through renewed focus on solid minerals.
In his New Year goodwill message to Nigerians, Alake said that President Bola Tinubu’s vision of diversifying the economy through renewed focus on solid minerals is on course, asserting that reforms in the sector will yield tremendous results in the New Year.
The Minister, in a statement issued to journalists by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, said that Management of the Sector will consolidate on reforms that commenced with their ambitious seven-point agenda on assumption of office, four months ago, in an attempt to develop the solid minerals sector, while declaring that the mining sector would experience a major leap in 2024, towards contributing substantially to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Alake assured Nigerians of an efficient governance structure that will transform the opaque nature of the mining sector will crystallise in the New Year. “Recall that we had revoked 1,633 mining licences of those that defaulted in the payment of annual service fees last year. More revocation is in the offing for other categories of defaulters in 2024.
“Plans to tackle insecurity in mining areas and the activities of illegal miners is well on course, saying that soon, the result of months of engagement with heads of security agencies will be felt,” he noted.
Speaking on exploration, Alake said that efforts on exploration of critical minerals, which started last year with the signing of an MOU with German firm, GeoScan GmbH for the deployment of proprietary technology to explore minerals up to 10,000m under the earth, will be ramped up with renewed vigour by the Federal Government. He added that the move is crucial for the development of the sector as it will lead to the generation of big geo-data required for global players to make informed decisions about investing in the industry.
Alake encouraged Nigerians to believe in Tinubu’s administration, emphasizing that reforms in the mining sector and other areas would bring the sector alive and lead to immense jobs opportunities and prosperity for all Nigerians.
