The Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, on Friday gave Departments, units and Agencies one week ultimatum in the ministry to embrace digitisation.
He gave the charge in Abuja during Ministerial Retreat for workers and other key stakeholders of the Ministry.
The Retreat was themed “Enhancing Performance, Strengthening Accountability, And Fostering Innovation In The Solid Minerals Sector.”
Stressing that there will be consequences for departments and units lagging behind digitally, he said that business will no longer be as usual.
“Distinguished Colleagues, our charge is clear: the era of business-as-usual is over. We must pursue a new paradigm of governance, one that is rooted in accountability, innovation, and measurable results.
“The global mining landscape is changing rapidly with the energy transition, the need for critical minerals, and the reshaping of global value chains.
“We cannot afford to be left behind.
This Retreat provides us the forum to articulate a new vision; one where our sector becomes globally competitive, sustainably managed, and investor-friendly.
“We must develop and implement policy frameworks that support exploration, beneficiation, and value addition within our country. We must work together to derisk mining investments, formalize the artisanal mining sector, and ensure that communities hosting mineral resources benefit meaningfully from our interventions.”
The Minister declared that Nigeria is now leading other African countries in solid minerals sector in value addition chain.
With improving innovations in the sector in past two years under President Bola Tinubu’s administration Renewed Hope Agenda, Dr Alake, disclosed that he has also been nominated as Africa’s AMSG Chairman.
He said “We aroused the consciousness of our African brothers and sisters to look beyond the indiscriminate export of raw minerals and realize that the critical advantage that advanced mineral and trading countries have over Africa lies in the low value of our exports.
“We convinced our African compatriots that by raising the value of our mineral exports, they shall command higher values in the international market.
“This Value Addition policy has been adopted by ministers of mining in Africa under the auspices of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group and is driving the implementation of a ban on the export of raw minerals by African countries.
“In recognition of his role as the champion of value addition, the AMSG elected me as its pioneer chairman,” he stated.
Noting that the Ministry has the mandate to promote good governance, unlock private sector participation, and catalyze inclusive growth across the solid minerals value chain, Dr. Alake charged all to embrace the opportunities before them with clear eyes and a resolute spirit.
He added “I wish to emphasize that improving life opportunities for Nigerians through the solid minerals sector goes beyond increasing revenue.
“It is about strengthening institutions, building capacity, prioritizing safety, protecting the environment, empowering women and youth, and ensuring equitable participation in the mining economy.
“I urge all Departments, Agencies, and Directorates present to seize this Retreat as an opportunity to break down silos, improve collaboration, and build synergy across our ecosystem.
“As you deliberate, remember that the ultimate test of our work is the positive transformation it brings to our country from safer, formalized mining communities, to increased investment and more jobs, to stronger infrastructure and value chains that help us compete globally.” Dr Alake stated
The Minister took time to reel out the achievements of the Ministry under his watch.
The Permanent Secretary, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo FNSE, said that Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind with the ongoing changes in solid minerals development globally.
According to him, there is urgent need to put things in order in order to harness Nigeria’s vast solid minerals resources in the country.
Stressing that the Retreat is more than just a meeting, the Permanent Secretary said it is coming at a very crucial time to reposition the sector.
He said the Retreat is a clarion call to rethink and retool for progress in the sector.
The Permanent Secretary listed five objectives the Retreat aims to address including “Review, Refine and Align, the Ministerial Deliverable with the Renewed Hope Agenda
“To Deepen Understanding of the CDCU Framework for Performance Management.
“To Enhance Leadership Cohesion and Cross-Departmental Collaboration.
“To Institutionalize a Results-Based Management Culture.
“To develop a coherent and results-driven strategic workplan that aligns Departmental and Agency activities with Presidential priorities and Ministerial Deliverables.”
Delivering good will message at the Retreat, Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Senator Ekong Sampson, said the Ministry holds the key to Nigeria’s economic growth and development.
According to him, the Senate is committed to collaborating with the Ministry to drive meaningful progress in the sector.
On his part, the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals, Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, said that the revenue of the Ministry has improved in the past two years apart from attracting favourable foreign direct investment into Nigeria.
He called for accurate measures to be taken to ensure the gains recorded are not wasted due to improper accountability.
While pointing out some ugly incidents in the sector, he commended the Ministry for high achievement in ICT.
He said: “In less than two years, we moved from $6 billion to $38 billion in revenue, and attracted over $800 billion in foreign direct investment.
“The Nigerian Solid Minerals Development Company is a masterstroke. This is our chance to replicate Norway’s oil success story, but with minerals. We must build resilient institutions that serve our communities for generations.”
The Director General of the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO), Engr. Obadiah Simon Nkom, described the retreat as a “moment of rebirth” for the entire sector.
He said, “By the time we leave here, we must be recharged and ready to deliver a sector that attracts investors and transforms communities.”
Representative of the Permanent Secretary of Steel Development, Management staff of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development also attended the retreat.
Signed
Kania Maliki Andeyaba
Head (Press and Public Relations Department)
11th July, 2025
