The Federal Government is intensifying efforts to boost job creation and revenue generation in the solid minerals sector through a new partnership between the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, stated this while receiving the management of the NCDC in Abuja.
He said the collaboration is aimed at unlocking the vast mining potential of the North Central region, with a strong focus on mineral processing and value addition.
The minister explained that over 300 artisanal and small-scale miners have been organised into cooperatives to curb illegal mining and integrate operators into the formal sector.
According to him, the government has also intensified enforcement, with more than 300 illegal miners arrested, while about 150 suspects, including foreigners, are currently being prosecuted.
Alake noted that the Federal Government’s local value addition policy is already yielding results, with new mineral processing projects underway in the North Central region.
He added that the policy has contributed over two billion dollars to the nation’s economy by promoting in-country processing of mineral resources, reducing raw material export, and boosting industrial growth.
The minister stressed the importance of collaboration between the ministry and development commissions, describing the solid minerals sector as critical to Nigeria’s economic diversification drive under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He assured the commission of the ministry’s full support and urged its leadership to prioritise transparency, strategic partnerships, and effective project delivery.
Earlier, the Managing Director of the NCDC, Cyril Tsenyil, said the visit was to explore areas of collaboration to drive sustainable development in the region.
He proposed the establishment of a Special Purpose Vehicle to accelerate investment and development in the mining sub-sector.
Both parties agreed to set up a technical working committee to advance the partnership.
The North Central Development Commission was established under the North Central Development Commission Act of 2024 to address infrastructure and development challenges across Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau states and the Federal Capital Territory.
