By Hosea Parah, Abuja

The Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake, has announced that the ministry will be collaborating with Lafarge Africa Plc to work towards mutual benefits and support the agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Dr Alake emphasized the importance of Lafarge Africa’s contribution to the mining sector and how it aligns with the government’s goal of making solid minerals a significant contributor to the country’s GDP.

The minister also highlighted the ministry’s efforts to create an enabling environment for industries in the extractive sector to thrive.

He assured Lafarge Africa that the government is putting mechanisms in place to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for mining industry players, thereby benefiting the nation as a whole.

Dr Alake commended Lafarge Africa for their innovative approach in exploring mineral deposits to reduce carbon emissions in cement production.

He expressed the ministry’s willingness to cooperate in this regard and praised the appointment of Mr Lolu Alade-Akinyemi as the new Group Managing Director/CEO of Lafarge Africa, recognizing his competence and track record.

In response, Mr Lolu Alade-Akinyemi affirmed that Dr Alake’s appointment as the Minister for Solid Minerals Development demonstrated the government’s commitment to revamp the economy using the sector.

He emphasized the company’s priority of minimizing carbon emissions in cement production and sought the cooperation and support of the ministry to achieve this objective. Mr Alade-Akinyemi also expressed the company’s eagerness to collaborate closely with the ministry on its 7-point agenda.