Tinubu’s policies repositioning Nigeria’s mining industry — Alake

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has attributed the recent growth recorded in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector to reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu.

Alake said the reforms have increased the sector’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), attracted more foreign direct investment and strengthened Nigeria’s position as an emerging destination for global mining investment.

The minister made this known through the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Engineer Obadiah Nkom, during the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention held in Toronto.

Speaking at the 27th Annual African Mining Breakfast, Alake emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among African countries to unlock the continent’s vast mineral resources and attract sustainable investment.

He reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to partner with credible investors committed to responsible mining, while stressing the Federal Government’s focus on value addition in the sector through local processing of minerals.

The minister also called for stronger cross-border integration in Africa’s mining industry, noting that coordinated policies and infrastructure development would unlock greater opportunities for trade and investment across the continent.

“Integration does not fail because Africa lacks frameworks. It fails because projects stall between borders. A mine may be viable in one country, but the rail link, the power line, or the processing facility sits across the border, and no institution takes responsibility for stitching these pieces together,” he said.

On the sidelines of the conference, the Nigerian delegation met with Paula Caldwell of the Canada–Africa Chamber of Business in a meeting facilitated by the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, to explore ways of strengthening Canada–Nigeria business engagement in the mining sector.