Federal lawmaker, Senator Ekong Sampson, has said that one of Nigeria’s major challenges is not the absence of laws but the failure to effectively implement existing ones.
Sampson, who represents Akwa Ibom South and chairs the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, made this assertion at the just-concluded Ministerial–Legislative Retreat on the Solid Minerals Sector held at Zuma Rock Resort, Suleja, Niger State.
He noted that Nigeria boasts an impressive array of legal and policy frameworks designed to drive growth across critical sectors, including solid minerals. However, poor enforcement, weak institutional capacity, and lack of continuity have undermined the nation’s progress.
“Nigeria is not short of laws or policies. What we lack is effective implementation and the political will to follow through on our frameworks,” Sampson said. “If we can strengthen compliance mechanisms and ensure synergy between policymakers and implementers, the mining sector will become a cornerstone of our economic diversification agenda.”
The lawmaker emphasised the need for greater collaboration between the legislature and the executive to ensure that reforms in the mining sector translate into tangible benefits for host communities and the national economy.
The Onomkpoinam Mkpat Enin admonished citizens to obey the laws of the land, while lamenting the menace of banditry and insecurity, which he said continue to pose challenges to the sector.
Sampson commended the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, for initiating the retreat, describing it as a timely platform for aligning policy directions with legislative oversight.
“This retreat reflects the spirit of continued partnership between the NASS Committees on Solid Minerals and the Ministry. Together, we can build a sector that not only generates revenue but also creates jobs, protects the environment, and uplifts our communities,” he stated.
Senator Sampson reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to enacting and reviewing extant laws that will make Nigeria’s mining industry globally competitive, while insisting that implementation remains the key to unlocking the sector’s full potential.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Hon. Jonathan Gbwefi, re-echoed the National Assembly’s commitment to align with the Ministry in pushing legislations that will give legal fillip to some of its initiatives.
He also stressed the need to ramp up implementation of the Ministry’s budget and programmes.
Gbwefi, like Sampson, assured that the National Assembly would not relent in its oversight functions in the mining sector.
In his remarks, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, commended the National Assembly for its continued support and collaboration with the Ministry, describing the partnership as crucial to repositioning the sector for national growth.
He stated that the Ministry has embarked on wide-ranging reforms aimed at sanitising the mining environment, attracting credible investors, and boosting the country’s revenue base.
He highlighted that the Ministry’s new initiatives focus on curbing illegal mining, strengthening data-driven exploration, and enhancing transparency through the establishment of the Nigeria Minerals Company.
The Minister also assured that the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring that the benefits of mineral exploitation trickle down to host communities, fostering peace, inclusion, and sustainable development.
The retreat, which brought together federal legislators and top ministry officials, focused on aligning legislative reforms with executive strategies for effective governance and resource optimisation in the solid minerals sector. It featured technical presentations and interactive sessions.