Nigeria’s mining drive aims beyond domestic reforms — Alake

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, says Nigeria’s renewed focus on the mining industry goes beyond local reforms, as the country positions itself to compete on the global stage and attract large-scale investment.

Alake made this known at a news briefing in Abuja on Friday ahead of the 10th edition of the Nigeria Mining Week.

He said the Federal Government had, over the past three years, implemented far-reaching reforms and policy initiatives to transform the mining sector into a major driver of economic growth.

“We are positioning Nigeria to compete globally and be recognised as the preferred destination for mining investment,” the minister said. “This is anchored on our vast mineral resources, an improved regulatory environment, and a firm commitment to sustainable development.”

According to Alake, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the ministry has intensified reforms focused on transparency, de-risking investment, and unlocking value across the mineral value chain.

He highlighted several key achievements, including strengthening the Mining Cadastre Office for transparent licensing, developing a new Solid Minerals Development Roadmap focused on inclusivity and local content, and deploying the Nigerian Mineral Resources Decision Support System.

Other milestones, he said, include a value-addition and diversification framework to promote local processing and job creation, the establishment of the Nigerian Mining Corporation, and new guidelines for Community Development Agreements (CDAs) to ensure host communities benefit directly from mining activities.

Alake described the upcoming 10th Nigeria Mining Week as the most impactful yet, with about 100 exhibitors showcasing advanced mining technologies and equipment, and more than 1,000 participants expected from Nigeria and abroad.

He said the event would feature high-level investment forums and networking sessions between government and business (G2B) as well as business-to-business (B2B) interactions. The sessions will also highlight Nigeria’s critical minerals such as lithium, gold, tin, and rare earth elements.

Dele Ayankale, President of the Miners Association of Nigeria, said the milestone edition marks a decade of innovation, dialogue, and collaboration in the solid minerals sector. According to him, the Mining Week has served as a bridge between policy and practice, helping to advance reforms and innovation across the industry.

Also speaking, Habeeb Jaiyeola, Partner and Head of Mining Sector Business Development at PwC Nigeria, said the annual event has been instrumental in shaping Nigeria’s mining agenda.

He noted that this year’s theme focuses on building investor-ready mining models, enhancing local value addition, improving small-scale mining finance, and strengthening environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards in the sector.