By Fatima Saka
Abuja, Nigeria — The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has tasked agencies and staff in the sector to develop a fresh seven-point agenda aimed at accelerating growth and repositioning Nigeria’s mining industry, while warning of stringent sanctions for non-compliance with Community Development Agreements (CDAs).
Speaking at the Ministry’s 2026 Annual Ministerial Retreat in Abuja, themed “Aligning the Ministerial 7-Point Agenda with the Presidential Mandate,” Alake urged stakeholders to think beyond the existing framework and propose bold, innovative strategies to take the sector to greater heights.
While noting that the current seven-point agenda remains in progress and will not be abandoned, the Minister emphasized the need to consolidate ongoing initiatives while charting new directions.
“We must continue to build on what we have started, but also develop fresh ideas that will take us beyond our current achievements,” he said.
Alake stressed that institutional effectiveness and a shift in mindset among personnel are critical to achieving measurable progress, noting that policies and investments can only yield results when driven by professionalism, ethical conduct, and commitment.
He also underscored the need to boost the sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), urging participants to move beyond revenue generation to tangible economic impact across the country.
On investment, the Minister called for strategies to attract sustainable, high-value investments that will unlock the full value chain of Nigeria’s mineral resources, alongside improved policies, enhanced security, and stronger public-private partnerships.
A major highlight of his address was a stern warning to mining companies that fail to comply with CDAs, which are designed to ensure host communities benefit directly from mining activities.
Alake disclosed that he has requested a list of defaulting firms and warned that the government would take drastic actions, including revocation of mining licences.
He recalled a previous exercise in which over 3,000 titles were revoked, stressing that enforcement would be intensified to ensure compliance.
“When companies honour CDAs, host communities are encouraged to maintain peace, which in turn supports sustained investment,” he said.
The Minister also called for tougher measures to combat illegal mining, including proposals to strengthen the Mining Marshals with enhanced operational capacity, such as the provision of armoured vehicles and necessary equipment, subject to budgetary support.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, described the retreat as a strategic platform to align the Ministry’s vision with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and drive measurable results.
He highlighted Nigeria’s vast mineral wealth—including lithium, gold, tin, and iron ore—as critical to industrialisation, job creation, and economic diversification, but noted that effective leadership and implementation remain key to unlocking these potentials.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Senator Ekong Sampson, said the sector has recorded notable milestones but requires improved funding to accelerate progress.
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Similarly, Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Jonathan Gaza, called for increased government prioritisation of the sector, describing current budgetary allocations as inadequate.
The retreat is expected to produce actionable strategies, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, and establish measurable performance benchmarks to guide the Ministry’s 2026 operations in line with national development goals.
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