NEPC advocates structured operations in solid minerals sector for economic advancement
By Boye Oyeyemi –
The federal government, through the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), has called on stakeholders in the solid minerals sector to formalise their operations as part of efforts to advance national development.
The Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, made the call at the Strategic Programme on the Formalisation of Solid Minerals for Export Competitiveness held in Akure.
Ayeni, represented by the NEPC State Coordinator, Mrs Florence Okafor, noted that the sector holds significant potential for economic growth if activities are properly formalised. She urged operators to adopt the necessary strategies to reposition and strengthen the sector.
She further emphasised the need to build a solid minerals ecosystem anchored on prosperity, transparency, sustainability, and export expansion, adding that formalisation remains essential for competitiveness, value creation, and national progress.
The NEPC CEO added that the programme seeks to transform the solid minerals industry into a substantial source of national revenue and industrial development. She reiterated the Council’s commitment to supporting exporters, strengthening value chains, and enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
Delivering a lecture titled “The Imperatives of Formalisation of Artisanal Mining for Development”, Mrs Oyinkan Duke disclosed that 85 per cent of activities in the sector remain illegal. She observed that misconceptions persist regarding perceived bottlenecks in securing mining licences.
Duke, a Chief Trade Promotion Officer in the Solid Minerals Directorate of NEPC, Abuja, explained that the Council is collaborating with State Committees on Export Promotion to capture mining activities across all states. She encouraged miners to form clusters, noting that the government has discouraged the export of raw solid minerals to promote value addition.
She added that NEPC is urging citizens to identify and explore solid mineral resources in their respective states for national benefit, pointing out that licensing procedures have now been streamlined to ensure a smoother process.
