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By Becky Usman
In a resounding declaration, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Oladele Alake, has unveiled the unwavering commitment of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to transform the solid mineral sector into the primary revenue generator for the nation. Alake made this remarkable announcement during the 22nd Annual General Meeting and International Conference of the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers in Kaduna.
The Minister’s vision is poised to elevate the solid minerals sector to unprecedented heights, positioning it as the “Noah’s ark” capable of navigating the nation out of its economic challenges. Alake expounded on the seven-point agenda of the current administration, designed to foster public-private partnerships that will facilitate the infusion of both financial and physical resources into the sector.
He emphasized, “Our country now requires patriotic and scientific contributions more than ever before, with an urgent need for unified efforts to realize the vision of the Tinubu-led administration, which aims to make solid minerals the preeminent revenue generator among all sectors in Nigeria’s economic landscape.”
Alake called upon all stakeholders attending the conference to demonstrate their patriotism, highlighting the President’s unwavering resolve to steer the nation toward economic prosperity. He encouraged the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers to actively participate in this historical resurgence of the sector and assured them of the government’s receptivity to innovative ideas and proposals.
In a joint communique issued by Engr. Benson Jatau and Engr. Tony Ojile, the President and Secretary General of the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers, the government was urged to embrace Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to harness private expertise for enhancing service delivery in industrial development. They further urged the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to swiftly address the issue of state interference with the Ministry’s statutory regulatory functions, which could potentially deter private mining investors.
The communique emphasized that PPP concessions would place private sector concessionaires in charge of delivering specified production and infrastructure services, and the government should create an enabling environment to attract investors into the mining sector for PPP agreements, particularly in relation to fully explored strategic mineral deposits.
The document also stressed the importance of due diligence in any agreements consummated between the government and private investors. The government was called upon to take deliberate actions to implement established roadmaps, expediting the development of the minerals industry. This bold vision signifies a significant step toward revolutionizing the solid minerals sector, setting the stage for a dynamic future as the cornerstone of the nation’s economic resurgence.