( FG Minister of solid minerals development, Dele Alake. Photo by Arise News)
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has acknowledged the hardships currently being experienced by Nigerians but maintained that the country’s economic struggles are an unavoidable part of a broader transformation process aimed at building a stronger and more sustainable future.
The minister made these remarks at the inaugural Solid Minerals Excellence Awards (SOMEA) held in Abuja, where he described the Tinubu administration’s reform agenda as bold, decisive, and aimed at achieving lasting industrial growth and national prosperity.
He noted that the government was confronting longstanding problems including corruption, weak institutions, economic instability, and an unhealthy dependence on oil revenue challenges that previous administrations had reportedly sidestepped due to political pressure.
Drawing a comparison with the transformation of Lagos State, Alake pointed out that painful reforms often face initial resistance before eventually yielding stronger institutions, improved revenue, and economic expansion.
He stressed that genuine national progress requires prioritizing long-term national interest over short-term political convenience.
On the mining sector specifically, the minister said it had been designated a key pillar of Nigeria’s economic diversification drive under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
He highlighted a range of reforms undertaken by his ministry, including tackling illegal mining, overhauling weak regulatory frameworks, digitizing licensing processes, and improving transparency.
He added that the Mining Marshals initiative had been expanded to deploy over 2,000 personnel nationwide, resulting in arrests, prosecutions, and greater compliance across the sector.
He also emphasized the importance of processing minerals locally to stimulate industrialization and job creation.
Other speakers at the event included the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Yusuf Yabo, who described the awards as a reflection of the government’s commitment to making Nigeria’s mining industry globally competitive.
SOMEA President Oladunmi Owo framed the ceremony as a platform to celebrate contributions to reform and sustainable development, while D-Gold CEO Omar Sahinolu called for responsible mining, transparent governance, and technological innovation.
Awards were subsequently presented to outstanding individuals and organizations across several categories, including Leading Mining Company of the Year, Excellence in Sustainable and Safe Operations, and Outstanding Contribution to Sector Growth, among others.
The event, themed “Unlocking the Future,” was conceived to promote innovation, sustainability, and investment attraction in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
