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Tag: Solid minerals

Remarkable strides in solid minerals sector

The continuing easing of the biting inflationary spirals in the prices of essential needs caused by the removal of fuel subsidy by the President Bola Tinubu administration. The noticeable increase in food productivity despite persisting insecurity constraints. The sustained positive outlook in the country’s surplus trade balances across successive quarters. The maintenance of a stable exchange rate with the Naira even gradually strengthening through the deft monetary policy. The renewed investor interest and confidence in the country’s economic potentials as reflected in the resurgence of the Nigerian stock market. The considerable amplification of the country’s foreign reserves compared to its parlous state as at May 2003. All these are responsible for the emergent consensus among experts that the far-reaching economic reforms of the administration are gradually yielding the desired results.

Of course, there is still a considerable path to tread before positive statistical aggregates begin to reflect in the quality of life of the vast majority of citizens. The central goals of the economic reforms are to restructure and diversify the economy, significantly enhance domestic productivity, reduce food, technology and other forms of dependency, boost raw materials self-reliance and enhance accelerated industrialization, actualize revenue generating capacities to fund the radical expansion and modernization of infrastructure as well as provision of qualitative but affordable social services including education, healthcare, potable water, efficient transportation as well as sufficient power supply among others.

In the final analysis, the ultimate verdict on the fundamental reforms of the Tinubu administration will depend on the level of performance of Ministries, Departments and Agencies that touch on the lives of millions of ordinary Nigerians, such as agriculture, rural development, education, healthcare, livestock production, poverty alleviation, trade and industry, transportation, as well as roads and infrastructure. But no less critical in this regard is the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, whose revenue- generating potentials remained largely dormant until the advent of the current administration.

Experts have, over the years, noted that the excessive reliance on revenues from crude oil sales and the lack of investment in developing the myriad of solid minerals that dot vast swathes of the Nigerian geographical space have been factors in the persistent deepening of underdevelopment and poverty in post-colonial Nigeria. In the current dispensation, this narrative of neglect and marginalisation of such a critical sector is slowly but steadily changing. Even then, it is still ‘morning yet on creation day’ even though the portents are quite promising.

The foremost expert on the political economy of solid minerals and underdevelopment in Nigeria, Professor Chibuzo Nwoke, has exhaustively documented the country’s treasure trove of assorted solid minerals spread in diverse locations. He classified them into seven broad categories, namely building and construction industry minerals; fuel minerals; steel industry minerals; non-ferrous minerals; industrial and manufacturing minerals; strategic minerals and precious metals and gemstones. The significance and spread of these minerals underscore the indispensable role of solid minerals in the quest for accelerated industrialisation and modernisation of Nigeria.

As an online medium puts it to illustrate how vital solid minerals are to national development, “Tin, Lead, and Zinc are essential base metals used in various industries, from manufacturing to construction. These are the building blocks of modern infrastructure. Iron ore is a key ingredient in steel production, vital for infrastructure development and industrial growth. This is the backbone of industrialisation. And in the words of Professor Nwoke, “Before the so-called oil boom era in the Nigerian economy, tin mining was the major source of revenue and foreign exchange for the country, which, for a long time, was among the top six producers of both tin and columbite in the world. But more recently, mostly because of the concentration on oil, the importance of tin and other minerals has declined in the Nigerian economy.”

He continued, “A poor mono-cultural Third World country like Nigeria cannot, however, afford to ignore the solid minerals sector of its economy because the long term well-being of the country may very well depend upon the nationalist management of its mineral potentials. Investigations from the Ministry of Mines reveal that there are potentials in Nigeria’s minerals sector that, if judiciously worked, could provide the needed precondition for a future of industrialisation.”

More than at any other time since the commencement of the Fourth Republic in 1999, a concerted effort had been sustained over the last two and a half years to lay the foundation for the transformation of the solid minerals sector into the backbone for the realisation of the goals of rapid industrialisation and accelerated development.

Read Also: Kwankwaso seeks compensation as Kano Assembly endorses Yusuf’s defection plan

As I wrote in this space on Saturday, June 8, 2024, titled ‘Alake, solid minerals and national development,’ “Dr Oladele Alake is serving as Minister of Solid Minerals Development at a critical transitional phase in the evolution of the Nigerian economy. Not only has the price of crude oil plummeted calamitously in the international market, but many countries are moving away from dependence on fossil fuels for cheaper and safer sources of energy. Many experts assert that the golden age of oil is over and that current reserves of the commodity have a limited lifespan. Alake thus has his work cut out for him. His challenge is to lay the foundation for solid minerals, with which the country is munificently blessed, to become the future major revenue earner for Nigeria.”

On assumption of office, the Minister identified eight priority minerals for immediate action and attention. This was obviously for the specificity of purpose as well as to ensure judicious utilisation of scarce resources to achieve concrete and measurable goals as regards minerals of the highest potential. The targeted eight priority minerals are gold, baryte, iron-ore, lead/zinc, coal, limestone, bitumen and lithium. As I wrote in the earlier piece, “His energies are thus centred on undertaking regulatory reforms to restore investor confidence and renewed global interest in these priority solid mineral resources without necessarily eschewing interest and investment in scores of other minerals with which the country is blessed.”

It is significant that over the years, experts have identified a lack of adequate information on the variety and depth of the country’s solid minerals endowment as a key factor in the continued underdevelopment of the sector to the detriment of national progress and transformation. The entering into an agreement by the Ministry of Solid Minerals with a German firm, Geo Scan Gmbn through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to generate critical data on the eight priority minerals and their deposits thus marks a notable milestone in the evolution of the sector. Towards this end, sophisticated technology has been deployed with the capacity of exploring mineral resources up to 10,000 meters underground.

In a related vein, the Ministry has worked in concert with the World Bank to conduct aeromagnetic surveys across the country for more accurate and reliable data on mineral spread and deposits to enable investors make more informed investment decisions. As the Minister noted at the 2024 Mines and Mining Conference in London, “The country’s geographical bounty encompasses over 44 distinct mineral types, found in exploitable quantities across more than 500 locations.” This expansive solid minerals endowment has also spurred Dr Alake to take defining and decisive steps to tackle the widespread incidence of criminality and violence associated with illegal mining in the largely ungoverned spaces where substantial quantities of solid minerals deposits are located.

The unveiling on March 22, 2024, of the 2,200-strong Mines Marshall Corp drawn from officers and men of the National Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) marked the most elaborate effort in the history of the ministry to restore sanity and legality to the mining of solid minerals in Nigeria. With the Corps’ command and control centre located in the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the Mines Marshal Corps is functional in all mining sites across diverse states, where it executes its mandate to smoke out, thwart and apprehend illegal miners and other violators of the country’s mining laws in the interest of Justice.

Nothing illustrates better the efficacy of the reforms vigorously undertaken over the last two years by Alake in the solid minerals sector than the quantum leap in the ministry’s financial contributions to the national coffers under his leadership. For 2023, the Ministry of Solid Minerals generated approximately N16 billion in revenue, and this amount rose to N38 billion in 2024. Between January and November 2025, the revenue generated by the ministry had hit N63.92 billion within 11 months, and the Ministry is optimistic that the total revenue figure for 2025 will exceed the N70 billion mark. This represents a growth rate of over 337% from the 2023 figure of N16 billion.

This astronomical increase in the Ministry’s revenue performance has been attributed to such reform initiatives as the revocation of dormant mining licences by the Minister, the drastic tackling of illegal mining through the Mining Marshalls Corp and initiatives aimed at enhancing local value addition before export of solid minerals, as well as attracting foreign investment. Shortly after resumption of office, the Minister announced the revocation of 1,633 mining licences due to default in the payment of their stipulated annual service fees. The affected entities had exceeded their deadlines to offset their debts as demanded by the Mining Cadastral Office, and they retrieved their licenses only after defraying their debts.

The digitisation of mining license applications has enabled online mining license processing, thereby increasing transparency and accountability with positive revenue generation implications. While a substantial amount of about N1 trillion was allocated for mineral exploration to bridge data gaps, over 300 artisanal mining cooperatives were formalized and these in turn stimulated better effectiveness, efficiency and organisational dynamism in the ministry. In the same vein, the launch of the Nigeria Minerals Decision Support System (NMRDSS) has improved access to geological data and the attraction of investors. Also noteworthy are the MOUs entered into with reputable firms in the United Kingdom and Australia for the training of Nigerian mining professionals on modern mining technology and practices.

In an address to a mining conference organized by the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies ( NIPSS), Alake had unequivocally declared that “My objective as the Minister is to work to ensure that Nigeria becomes a global mining destination for the first time in history and we are working to make this happen by alleviating bottlenecks and addressing salient challenges that have plagued the sector for decades”. The election of Alake as Chairman of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) in 2024 reflects the Ministry’s active participation on the global terrain, the amplification of its influence and the positive ramifications for the attraction of foreign investment and consequently enhanced financial viability.

From all indications, the Ministry is not resting on its oars as its leadership believes that the strides taken so far, though by all means remarkable, represent a minuscule portion of the potentials of the sector and the far greater heights it is still possible to attain.

January 10, 2026
MINISTRY OF SOLID MINERALS DEVELOPMENT
- A DORMANT MINING SECTOR REVIVES UNDER ALAKE’S STEWARDSHIP
- By Segun Tomori
Dr. Dele Alake, a veteran communications and media juggernaut renowned for his skills in the information and strategy niche was not the likely nominee to superintend over the then newly created Ministry of

Solid Minerals Development

(MSMD), at least in the eyes of the public, but President Bola Tinubu had other ideas. The Renewed Hope agenda anchored on diversification of the economy, with emphasis on solid minerals, needed a trusted hand, a reliable ally and a go-getter that can literarily bring water out of stone. With the benefit of hindsight, the President must have thought no other, from his close circle of associates, asides from Alake, fits the bill. Indeed, looking back at what has been achieved over the past two years, that choice has proven to be a masterstroke!

With uncanny surefootedness, Alake swung into action, days after assuming office in August 2023, launching a 7-point agenda hinged on reforming and repositioning the mining sector for international competitiveness and domestic prosperity.

Addressing security challenges plaguing the sector took a center stage of the agenda. Initially christened as “Mines Police and Mines Surveillance task force” at the planning stage, exigencies of implementation led to what is now known as the Mining Marshals. The marshals, whose operatives are drawn from the ranks of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, specially trained by the military and well equipped, were initially 2,220-strong force at inception but today, just over a year after, they now total 2,670 men deployed across the 36 states and the FCT.

In just one year, the mining marshals have taken the battle to illegal miners, sending out a strong signal that it is no longer business as usual. For instance, over 300 suspected illegal miners have been arrested across Akwa-Ibom, Kogi, Kebbi, Kaduna, Oyo, Ondo, Nasarawa, Kwara, FCT, and Niger; 98 illegal mining sites have been recovered; over 150 are currently undergoing prosecution while 457 illegal mining sites have been identified. The operations of the squad that was somewhat limited last year due to budgetary constraints, is about to be ramped up this year, on account of the improved funding for the ministry in the 2025 appropriation act. Also, satellite monitoring of mining sites to complement the operations of the marshals is underway as the Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved N2.5bn for that purpose Aside from the mining marshals, the minister also conceptualized a non-kinetic approach to tackle illegal artisanal mining.

On assumption of office, he gave a 30-day ultimatum to artisanal miners to form themselves into cooperatives, to enable government formalize their operations. As we speak, over 250 cooperatives have been formed while 70,650 jobs have been created in the process. Also. 549 private mineral buying centres were registered in the last 15 months.

The “use it or lose it” policy enshrined in the 2007 Minerals and Mining act which stipulates the revocation of mining licenses after a certain period of inactivity or suspected hoardina of mineral titles was enforced when Alake revoked 924 dormant licenses and another 1,633 for default in payment of annual service fees. This is in line with the policy of comprehensively reviewing all mining licenses, in line with his 7-point agenda to discourage speculation and ensure the mining space is freed up for serious investors.

The lack of an efficient governance structure which has been the bane of the mining sector for several decades, led to the creation of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company. Unlike a similar, defunct corporation in the past, this one will be private-sector driven to wean it off political or government interference, and ensure it outists this administration and subsequent ones. Already, the appointment of the CEO, Martins Imonitie has been approved by the President and the ministry is working with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) to set up its initial structure. The equity of the company will be hinged on 50% for the private sector, 25% for Nigerians and 25% reserved for government.

Host communities were not left out in efforts to reposition the mining sector as one of the first acts of the minister was revising Guidelines for Community Development Agreements (CDA). Hitherto, prospective miners were not obligated to obtain consent from host communities before mining applications are approved that has now changed. It is now a pre-condition before mining applications are considered. This is to ensure that communities get their dues and reap the benefits of mineral resources buried within their land Communities are now encouraged to form committees that include traditional rulers to negotiate and sign CDAs.

Read Also: Senate to monitor N1tr solid minerals’ budget

Local value addition is a sing-song that gained continental prominence, over the past two years under Alake’s stewardship. He is wont to say that the era of “Pit to Port” – merely extracting minerals without any form of processing, is gone! Plans for some form of minerals processing or refining must now accompany mineral title applications, before they are considered This new conceptualized to stimulate development of he mining industry, ensure the nation reaps the ful genefits of her mineral resources, alongside getting the needed foreign exchange to stabilize our currency and also create jobs for our nation’s teaming youth. This policy attracted international attention and led to the formation of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), in which the minister was unamimously elected the pioneer chair, on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF), Riyadh, Saudi-Arabia, last year To enhance ease of doing business, particularly for prospective foreign investors, the Nigeria Mineral Resources Decision Support System (NMRDSS) was launched last year. Designed as a comprehensive online software platform to garner information about Nigeria’s mining sector, it leverages data-driven insights and streamlined processes to enable prospective investors make informed investment decisions. For instance, the platform is equipped with litho-structural maps, geochemical information, maps showing mining license locations and visualization tools to identify promising mining areas, amongst other.

The digitization of the license application process through the establishment of the Electronic Mining Cadastral Plus system (eMC+) has streamlined the mining application processes, reduced processing time and improved the efficiency of mineral title administration. This innovation coupled with reforms and efforts of the minister to market the sector has led to a quantum leap in applications and operations culminating in 59.6% rise in revenue, resulting in N16.4bn generated by the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) in 2024. The feat is being sustained in 2025 as the agency generated over N6.9bn in the first quarter, while another, Mines Inspectorate Department of the ministry also generated about N7bn in the same From a projected revenue of N11bn in 2024, N38.19bn was generated despite the ministry receiving a paltry 18% of its capital budget in that fiscal year. These signposts renewed investor confidence in the resurgent mining sector and the result of efforts to reposition it by the Tinubu administration. Already, the mining sector is already recording positive reviews in diverse quarters.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), there are emerging bright spots. “In real terms, the Mining and Quarrying sector grew by 2.23% (year-on-year) in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to the same quarter of 2023 and the third quarter of 2024.

Metal ores sub-sector recorded substantial growth with its contribution rising from N44.22bn in 2023 to N103.51bn in 2024, reflecting a N59.29bn or 134.07 per cent increase of economic activity and investor confidence is not happenstance, it is a manifestation of the tenacious efforts to reform and reposition in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

On the international front, Nigeria has now joined the league of leading mining nations on the continent. Aside from leading the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) now made up of 18 African countries and counting, Alake has been able to secure significant international partnerships to develop our mining sector. Late last year, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with France was signed on the heels of President Tinubu’s official visit to Paris. It collaboration for semediation of over 1,000 collaboration for remediation of over abandoned mining pits in the country. Also, an MOU was signed with South-Africa on the heels of the South-African Minister of Minerals and Energy.

Gwedu Mantashe’s visit to Nigeria recently. The partnership will involve capacity building for Nigeria’s mining professionals on geology, mining and mineral processing, exploration of Agro and Energy Minerals in Nigeria amongst others, while the French government is set to equip the laboratories of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) – an agency under the ministry, and train geologists on modern mining technologies. In a related development, the first batch of mining professionals to be trained by the Australian government on capacity building to address skill gaps in the mining industry are leaving the country tor Australia by month end. All these and more were made possible by Alake’s relentless marketing of the nation’s solid minerals potential to the international community.

The minister has at different fora emphasized the need to generate big geo-data to attract global big players into the mining industry. Hitherto, the paltry allocation to the ministry has made this almost impossible. Exploration has only been conducted on about 5% of the nation’s landmass but this is about to change with President Tinubu’s substantial upward review of the ministry’s capital budget to over N1tr. As the 2025 budget becomes fully operational, the ministry will access the needed resources for exploration, and thus enhance the potential to attract major investors that will develop the sector.

It is without any shred of doubt that Alake has awoken a sleeping giant. He has redirected global attention to Nigeria’s solid minerals, spearheading far-reaching reforms that have started yielding fruits.

The cynicism of the past is giving way to renewed enthusiasm, the prevalent lethargy in the sector has simply faded out, making the Nigeria’s mining sector, one of the most sought after on the continent. With Alake in the saddle, building enduring institutions and structures, mining is on the verge of becoming a major contributor to our nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
May 29, 2025
EU eyes Nigeria’s solid minerals to diversify trade

In an effort to expand trade and investment in Nigeria, the European Union has declared interest in the country’s solid minerals sector.

European Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake in Abuja.

Mignot commended ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s mining sector, noting that the EU delegation seeks to better understand the industry and explore areas of mutual interest and collaboration.

Alake emphasised Nigeria’s readiness to engage with EU member states and investors to unlock the vast potential of her solid minerals for shared prosperity. “Given our history and the cordial relationship we’ve maintained with the EU, the time is ripe to map out concrete plans and translate them into actionable projects within the solid minerals sector,” he stated.

Highlighting Nigeria’s wealth of critical minerals, the Minister pointed to the abundance of high-grade lithium—an essential component in solar panels, electric vehicles, and battery production. He further described Nigeria as a hub for minerals critical to the global shift toward green energy.

“We have lithium, cobalt, copper, and more—all in commercially viable quantities. Nigeria is deepening exploration this year to discover more. Even within the limited areas explored so far, we’re looking at over $700 billion in mineral deposits. This represents a massive investment opportunity, and we encourage EU investors to take advantage of it,” Alake added.

To attract investments, the Minister outlined several incentives, including tax waivers on mining equipment, policies allowing full repatriation of profits, enhanced security through dedicated mining marshals, and streamlined licensing processes. He stressed that local value addition remains a prerequisite for issuance of mining licenses to prospective investors.

“Any serious investor that intends to invest in our sector must have concrete plans for local value addition because that is the only way we can really ignite the potential of our local economy, create multiplier effect that will generate employment, technological transfer and beneficiation,” Alake asserted.

Read Also: Senate to monitor N1tr solid minerals’ budget

Hinting at the Federal Government’s new approach towards sustainability and traceability of minerals extracted from the country, the minister revealed that mechanisms are being put in place to track minerals mined from the country, whether raw, semi-processed or finished minerals. He emphasized that Nigeria is committed to ensuring that minerals exported from the country are traceable, stressing that government is tightening the noose on those responsible for carting away illegally mined minerals.

He said: “If we put in place mechanisms with the cooperation of other nations, we can reduce to the barest minimum incidences of our minerals surfacing in unauthorized hands. For instance, some people can smuggle lithium out and manufacture something that may not even be beneficial to the host country and to us.”

Outlining mechanisms already in place, the minister pointed out on-going pre-shipment inspections, satellite imaging underway to monitor activities from the mine pit to the port or processing factory amongst others, welcoming collaboration from the EU to boost reforms and build a more transparent, investor-friendly mining sector.”

Ambassador Mignot assured the Minister that the EU would consult with member states and encourage European companies to explore partnership opportunities in Nigeria’s solid minerals space, noting the EU’s shared commitment to sustainable and mutually beneficial trade relationships.

April 16, 2025
Chinese firms to invest $500m in solid minerals’ sector

Senate Committee on Solid Minerals has promised to provide enabling legislations to protect Chinese companies prospecting to invest $500 million investments in solid minerals exploration in the country.

The acting Chairman of the Committee, Senator Onawo Mohammed Ogoshi said this during an interactive session between the Chinese delegation and the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals resources at the weekend in Abuja.

Ogoshi assured the delegation that the Senate will provide enabling legislations to protect their investments in any part of the country.

“The Nigerian Senate is supposed to give you all the necessary encouragement to come and bring this huge amount of money to our economy.

“Our laws on solid minerals exploration are very robust. We intend to make it more robust by amending some of the laws that are obsolete, outdated and enact laws that will give your companies better protection in doing good business in Nigeria,” he said.

He appealed to the delegation to bring in more investors into Nigeria to do business.

Also speaking, a member of the committee, Senator Adamu Aliero said: “I join the chairman to commend you for coming to invest in our country.

“You have come at the right time when the country is venturing into diversifying her economy.

“We had a mono-economy before now, where we depended heavily on oil for our foreign exchange earnings but the Federal Government has realized that we had no better choice than to look for other sectors of economy to earn revenue to finance our budget and solid minerals is one area where we have a lot of potentials.

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“We will do all we can to facilitate your involvement in this sector. We will liaise with the Ministry of Solid Minerals at the national level to secure licenses and to give you permission to go and start mining.

“We will also talk to the governors and the traditional institutions to ensure that you have free access to the areas where you are going to do your business and once that is done, I don’t think you will have any problem,” he said.

Earlier, leader of the delegation comprising some solid minerals exploration firms from China, Mr Chen Twan of Zong Hong Kotai Group said that the delegation is coming up with an initial $500million to invest in three states of Nigeria, comprising Zamfara, Kebbi and Nasarawa.

He noted that if they do well within the first one year of their exploration in the three states, they would extend their investments to other states that have solid minerals’ potentials.

Mr Chen Twan said: “If we test the waters and see that it is good, we will attract more investors to Nigeria to invest in minerals deposits.

“As an international group, our company specializes in mining and bitumen. In the past few years, we have invested extensively globally and on that strength, we have come to Nigeria to survey the possibility of investing in the mining and industrial park sectors in your country for the coming year.

“We also have another investment in Nigeria and we will make that known in the course of our stay in country.”

Also, a representative of Nigerian investors and Managing Director of El-Tahdam Exploration Limited, Mr Adamu Tah, said: “Over time, we have been engaging them for the past two years. We have gone to their factories in China.

“I have personally visited their factories for the past one year, I saw their processes and we know what they do and we trust them and we are a Nigerian based company.

“They are not coming to Nigeria on their own, they are coming based on the investigation they have done, the companies that we have and the licenses that we have acquired.

“So, they are coming to build on those licenses and that is why when they came we had to introduce them to our fathers so that they will have full confidence of investing in Nigeria knowing that we are a true company doing the right thing and following the laws of the country.”

He said the support of the Senate has given them the courage to invest the huge amount of money in the nation’s solid minerals’ sector.

“With Senate’s support, they still want to invest more money into this venture and if that is good, they intend to invest another $1billion into the solid minerals sector when this first phase of the investment scales through,” he said.

April 7, 2025
Chinese firms set to invest $500m in solid minerals’ sector
- …as Senate assures of enabling laws to protect investments
Senate Committee on Solid Minerals has promised to provide enabling legislations to protect Chinese companies’ $500million investments in solid minerals exploration in the country.

The acting Chairman of the Committee, Senator Onawo Mohammed Ogoshi (SDP – Nasarawa South), made this declaration during an interactive session between the Chinese delegation and the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals resources at the weekend in Abuja.

Senator Ogoshi assured the delegation that the Senate will provide enabling legislations to protect their investments in any part of the country.

“The Nigerian Senate is supposed to give you all the necessary encouragement to come and bring this huge amount of money to our economy.

“Our laws on solid minerals exploration are very robust. We intend to make it more robust by amending some of the laws that are obsolete, outdated and enact laws that will give your companies better protection in doing good business in Nigeria,” he said.

He appealed to the delegation to bring in more investors into Nigeria to do business.

Read Also: Cross River to partner Russia on solid minerals, science, and healthcare training

Also speaking, a member of the committee, Senator Adamu Aliero said: “I join the chairman to commend you for coming to invest in our country.

“You have come at the right time when the country is venturing into diversifying her economy.

“We had a mono-economy before now, where we depended heavily on oil for our foreign exchange earnings but the Federal Government has realized that we had no better choice than to look for other sectors of economy to earn revenue to finance our budget and solid minerals is one area where we have a lot of potentials.

“We will do all we can to facilitate your involvement in this sector. We will liaise with the Ministry of Solid Minerals at the national level to secure licenses and to give you permission to go and start mining.

“We will also talk to the governors and the traditional institutions to ensure that you have free access to the areas where you are going to do your business and once that is done, I don’t think you will have any problem,” he said.

Earlier, leader of the delegation comprising some solid minerals exploration firms from China, Mr Chen Twan of Zong Hong Kotai Group said that the delegation is coming up with an initial $500million to invest in three states of Nigeria, comprising Zamfara, Kebbi and Nasarawa.

He noted that if they do well within the first one year of their exploration in the three states, they would extend their investments to other states that have solid minerals’ potentials.

Mr Chen Twan said: “If we test the waters and see that it is good, we will attract more investors to Nigeria to invest in minerals deposits.

“As an international group, our company specializes in mining and bitumen. In the past few years, we have invested extensively globally and on that strength, we have come to Nigeria to survey the possibility of investing in the mining and industrial park sectors in your country for the coming year.

“We also have another investment in Nigeria and we will make that known in the course of our stay in country.”

Also, a representative of Nigerian investors and Managing Director of El-Tahdam Exploration Limited, Mr Adamu Tah, said: “Over time, we have been engaging them for the past two years. We have gone to their factories in China.

“I have personally visited their factories for the past one year, I saw their processes and we know what they do and we trust them and we are a Nigerian based company.

“They are not coming to Nigeria on their own, they are coming based on the investigation they have done, the companies that we have and the licenses that we have acquired.

“So, they are coming to build on those licenses and that is why when they came we had to introduce them to our fathers so that they will have full confidence of investing in Nigeria knowing that we are a true company doing the right thing and following the laws of the country.”

He said the support of the Senate has given them the courage to invest the huge amount of money in the nation’s solid minerals’ sector.

“With Senate’s support, they still want to invest more money into this venture and if that is good, they intend to invest another $1billion into the solid minerals sector when this first phase of the investment scales through,” he said.
April 6, 2025
Cross River to partner Russia on solid minerals, science, and healthcare training

The Cross River State Government has expressed interest in partnering with the Russian Government to develop its solid mineral sector and train professionals in mineral exploration and healthcare.

Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu made this known during a diplomatic and business meeting on Tuesday, January 11, 2025, with Mr. Maxim Petrov, Trade Commissioner of the Russian Federation in Nigeria, and Senior Counselor Mr. Sergei Pliushchov at the Russian Embassy.

He was accompanied by Dr. Prince Michael Nku Abuo, his Special Adviser on Intervention and Grants, who also serves as the State Coordinator for African Union Development Agency/New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA/NEPAD).

Read Also; FG to launch national scorecard to track states’ progress on open defecation-free goal

Governor Otu emphasized the state’s vast mineral deposits, skilled workforce, and business-friendly environment, inviting Russia to collaborate in harnessing these resources.

Mr. Petrov assured the governor of his government’s readiness to support Cross River in mineral surveying, mapping, and exploration.

He also announced scholarship opportunities, accommodation for Cross River students in Russia, and training programs for the state’s healthcare workers.

Additionally, Russian investors are set to explore the establishment of processing and refining plants in Cross River.

Dr. Abuo appreciated the Russian Government for these opportunities and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to ensuring the success of the partnership for mutual benefit.

February 12, 2025
Solid Minerals sector unveils Nigeria’s Hidden Riches

The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has unveiled a television series, Hidden Riches, to showcase the huge untapped potentials and vast opportunities in the country’s solid minerals sector.

Premiered at the weekend in Abuja, the 30-minute weekly television production will portray the critical role of the sector in driving the nation’s economic growth and diversification policy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Mary Ogbe, who unveiled the series, noted that Hidden Riches is not just a documentary but a call to action for Nigerians and the global community to recognise the limitless possibilities beneath the nation’s soil.

“The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development is committed to fostering innovation, raising awareness, and building capacity within the sector. Our collaboration with Tech7 Media Productions is part of a broader strategy to engage stakeholders, inspire young Nigerians, and attract both domestic and international investors to this critical sector,” Dr. Ogbe said.

The permanent secretary restated the Federal Government’s commitment to economic diversification with solid minerals playing a key role in the process.

She said: “This production could not have come at a better time. Under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Federal Government has prioritized economic diversification, and the solid minerals sector remains a vital pillar of this agenda.”

Dr. Ogbe lauded the visionary leadership of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake, in championing the sector’s transformation and acknowledged the creativity of the production crew.

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According to her, the series will enable viewers to reflect on the opportunities within Nigeria’s solid mineral sector and the collective responsibility to ensure its sustainable development for future generations.

The Special Adviser to the Minister, Kehinde Bamgbetan, described the documentary as a creative tool to educate and engage the public on the vital role of the sector.

“The media is a powerful instrument for conscientising Nigerians. Through radio programmes and television series, like Hidden Riches, we can subtly but effectively highlight the immense potential of our solid minerals sector,” he said.

Bamigbetan listed the ministry’s reforms, including formalising artisanal mining cooperatives and deploying mining marshals to curb illegal mining.

He added: “Our goal is to ensure Nigerians take ownership of the sector, actively participating in and benefiting from its growth.”

The producer of the series, Bem Pever, said: “The series is not just entertainment; it’s a platform to inspire viewers to explore opportunities in this sector.

“The series is designed to educate both local and international audiences while attracting investors to the sector.

“Drama is an effective medium for communication. While the government has used various methods to inform the public about the potential of the solid minerals sector, we believe storytelling through drama could be even more impactful.”

January 20, 2025
Australia to train solid minerals professionals

Federal Government efforts at ensuring the maximum exploitation of the country’s solid minerals potentials got a boost with the Australian government offering to training to Nigerian professionals in the sector.

Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Leilani Bin-Juda made this known during a visit to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake in Abuja.

The envoy said that the collaboration is aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of Nigerian experts in order to develop the country’s solid minerals sector.

The High Commissioner further said her visit was to brief and invite the Minister on the upcoming “African Down Under (ADU) Conference” holding in Perth, Australia next month.

“I am here to extend a formal invitation to Dr. Alake to attend the prestigious African Down Under (ADU) Conference, scheduled to take place in Perth, Australia, from the 4th to the 6th of September 2024.

“Australia is renowned for its abundant mineral resources and advanced mining technologies, ranking among the top producers of key minerals such as iron ore, coal, gold, and bauxite. Australia is a critical player in the global mining industry” Bin-Juda emphasized.

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Explaining further on the conference, the High Commissioner said, the meeting will introduce participants to a new free platform developed by Geoscience Australia, designed specifically for Africa.

According to her, “the innovative platform leverages satellite data to track and monitor mining activities across the continent, offering free, high-quality training and real-time data access“.

The High Commissioner explained that the potential of the conference will revolutionize the way Nigeria manages and oversees its mining operations.

Bin-Juda, who was accompanied by the Second Secretary of the Australian High Commission, Anto Bouckley, reiterated her commitment to fostering stronger ties between both nations and promised to visit the Minister again after the conference, to consolidate on the ongoing collaboration and partnership.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dr. Oladele Alake expressed gratitude for the invitation and reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to deepen its relationship with Australia, particularly in the solid minerals sector.

August 30, 2024
Solid minerals: Stakeholders canvass 10 percent for host communities

Stakeholders at a public hearing in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, July 17, canvassed 10 percent of revenue for host communities of solid minerals in the country.

This was part of recommendations in the hearing which was organised by the House Committee on Solid Minerals chaired by Hon Jonathan Gaza.

The hearing was on the Minerals and Mining (Repeal and Re-enactment) and HB. 752 Nigeria Mineral Development Company Limited (Establishment Bill), 2023.

This, they said, would ensure the host communities derive the economic benefits for solid minerals extraction in their environment where the mining activities take place.

They also proposed a 10-year renewable mining lease instead of the 25 years as captured in section 66 of the Solid Minerals Mining Act 2007.

Tobias Lengs of RENEVLYN Development Initiative decried the health hazards, the environmental degradation and the negligence of the miners that pose a danger to host communities.

“We suggest an upward review of the extraction net value revenue that goes to the Community Development Association. 10 percent is suggested and this should be reviewed periodically.

“The duration of a Mining Lease is twenty-five years and shall be renewable every twenty-four years as captured in section 66 of the Solid Minerals Act. The 25-year mining lease arrangement is too long and leaves room for operators to get away with impunity at a huge cost to the nation. A 10-year mining lease is proposed instead to compel operators to be more responsive and accountable for their actions,” he said.

He further suggested that the community development agreement should be flexible to allow the host community to determine exactly what they want to use the funds for without tying it to particularise line items.

Lumun Amanda Feese who represented the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) said despite the enactment of modern legislation for the mining industry not much has been achieved economically.

“The mining sector’s impact on the economy remains suboptimal, hovering below one percent of GDP by 2015. In 2016, the government approved an industry roadmap aimed at enhancing the sector’s role as an economic driver, targeting a three percent GDP contribution by 2025.

“The NESG would like to commend the House Committee for initiating these bills to address the staggering decline of the mining sector. While both bills are noteworthy, the NESG emphasises an urgent need for the Federal Government to instil the highest standard of good governance in the mining industry.

“This call is similar to the government’s successful approach in the oil and gas sector demonstrated through the Petroleum Industry

Act (PIA) of 2021 to implement the Nigerian oil and gas policy,” he said.

The chairman of the Committee, Gaza noted that the proposed legislation is necessary to transform the mining sector.

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The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, said the mining industry plays a vital role in the economy, contributing significantly to government revenue, employment generation, and foreign exchange earnings.

“The sector holds immense potential for driving industrialization, infrastructure development, and overall economic diversification.

“However, despite its immense potential, the sector faces numerous challenges that hinder its growth and impact on national development.

“It is imperative that we address these issues through comprehensive legislative reforms that will create a conducive environment for sustainable mining practices,” he said.

July 17, 2024
Fed Govt introduces new rates for solid minerals

In an attempt to position the Solid materials sector for economic consolidation and international competitiveness, the federal government yesterday announced a new regime of rates and charges for its various services; 268 items of the Ministry’s services are affected in the new rate regime.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, said that the new rates which takes immediate effect, comes on the heels of the introduction of qualitative measures, human and technological capacity upgrades implemented in recent times to raise the level of technical efficiency of the services in the sector.

He further said the new regime which also includes royalties and penalties are designed to improve the traffic of transactions and develop infrastructure to cope with the resurgence of business interests in the sector.

In arriving at the new rates, the Minister said a committee of the Directors of Departments and Directors-General of agencies under the ministry was charged to work out new rates to justify government’s’ investment in the service infrastructure and to cope with the expected meteoric spike in the traffic of applicants besieging the regulatory machinery. All critical stakeholders in the sector were involved in the process before arriving at the new rate regime.

The Minister listed the major highlights of the new rate regime to include: applicants seeking for mining leases, N3 million; reconnaissance permit, N300,000; exploration license, N600,000; small scale mining license, N300,000; quarry lease, N600,000 and water user permit, N300,000.

Still, he said the annual service fee is now N31,500 per cadastral unit for the first time, small-scale mining attracts N260,000; quarry lease, N500,000 and mining lease, N1.25 million.

“Penalties for late renewal of mineral licenses: reconnaissance permit, N600,000; exploration license, N1.5 million; mining lease, N3 million and quarry lease, N1.5 million.

“Royalty rate per standard weight of minerals will now cost 100 percent more. Baryte, with N42,000 as market value per tonne, attracts N2,100 royalty; Coal, with N100,000 per tonne, attracts N3,000; Gold, with N1,081,200 per ounce as market value, attracts N36,436 royalty per tonne; Lead/Zinc concentrate, with N480,000 per tonne as market value, attracts a royalty of N14,400 per tonne.”

Others are “Lithium Ore (Lepidolite) at the current market value of N600,000 per tonne attracts N18,000 royalty per tonne; Lithium (Kunzite) at the current market value of N3 million per tonne attracts N90,000 royalty per tonne; and Lithium ore (Spodumene) at the current market value of N316,667 per tonne attracts N9,500 royalty per tonne.

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“The license to manufacture explosives now costs N20 million; modifying explosives costs N10 million; and the sale of explosives for mining costs N500,000.

“Investors willing to obtain a license to refine gold will pay N5 million, and a permit to operate a mineral processor costs N100, 000.

“Mineral resources map of Nigeria will cost N500,000, and the geological map of Nigeria now costs N300,000.”

Oniorgbo power plant set for inauguration

The Onirogbo 80 Kwp Solar PV hybrid mini grid located in Odigbo Local Government in Ondo State is set to be inaugurated on Wednesday. The Project was designed by Tripple E, utilising 100 per cent equity funding, will be inaugurated by the Acting Managing Director, Rural Electricity Agency (REA), Abubakar Aliyu, while the Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Energy, Johnson Alabi, as well as the Ekiti State Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Professor Bolaji Aluko, including the Chief Executive of Tripple E Systems Associate Limited, Professor Felix Dayo, will be present at the event.

The project was completed last May and the community will enjoy electricity supply as well as other villages. The estimated population of the community is about 1,000 who are mostly farmers.

The company would also kick off a 1MW Solar PV Hybrid Power plant for Charis Innovative Fabrication Ltd., Ondo city, Ondo State. Charis Innovative Fabrication Ltd., a Greenfield Nigerian company contracted Triple E to develop the energy supply infrastructure for its Greenfield pressure vessel fabrication factory for the Oil and Gas Industry that will be sited in Ondo city, Ondo State, Nigeria.

The work achieved so far for the power system of the factory which will commence construction in the middle of the next quarter of 2024 (July – September) is a state-of-the-art Solar PV Hybrid Power System with the following: a 1MWp Solar PV Rooftop/Farm System; an integrated 1300kWh battery backup and a 1 MWp standby Propane generator.

In addition to these two projects, the company said it has engaged in detailed discussion with three tertiary institutions in designing and implementing sustainable energy solutions for them. These institutions are Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) Osun State; Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State and Elizade University, Ondo State.

Tripple E Systems Associate Limited (Tripple E) was incorporated in Nigeria in 1992 as an Engineering and Consulting firm to provide services in the area of Energy System, Environmental Evaluation, Engineering Designs, and computer Applications.

July 5, 2024