The Federal Government has promised to transform Nigeria’s solid minerals sector in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration. The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development said it is ready to work with different agencies and experts to boost the sector.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, gave the assurance at the third annual international conference of the Nigeria Association of Exploration Geologists (NAEG) in Abuja. The conference had the theme: “Exploration Geophysics, Earth Resources and Environmental Problems in Modern Nigeria.”
Represented by the Director of Artisans and Small-Scale Mining, Mr. Akinrogunde Akintunde, Dr. Alake said Nigeria must move away from outdated mining practices and fully make use of its rich mineral resources through partnerships.
He also praised the efforts of geophysicists, noting their strong contributions to the country’s economy through their work in the energy and oil sectors.
In his address, the President of NAEG, Akinola George, pointed out that poor geotechnical data is one of the main causes of frequent building collapses in Nigeria.
He explained that studies conducted between 1990 and 2012 showed that many collapsed buildings were constructed on unstable grounds such as buried river channels, fractured zones, and areas with structural weaknesses, apart from cases caused by the use of poor-quality building materials.
George urged Nigerians to work closely with the government and always involve experts when putting up buildings to reduce the risks of collapse.
Speaking on Nigeria’s mineral wealth, he stressed that the country must add value to its minerals before exporting them if it wants to enjoy real economic benefits.
He praised the Mining Cadastral Office for digitalizing the process of issuing mining licenses, which now allows investors to easily select sites of interest.
George also reaffirmed NAEG’s support for the ministry’s policy that Nigeria’s raw solid minerals should be processed locally before being exported. According to him, this will ensure more value and greater economic returns for the country.
The Director General of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Professor Olusegun Ige, described geosciences as the “heartbeat” of the solid minerals sector. Represented by Mr. Isaac Okorie, Director of Economic Geology, he pledged the agency’s continuous support to ensure growth in the sector.
Similarly, the Managing Director of Ajaokuta Steel Company, Professor Nasir Abdulsalami, said there can be no geosciences without geophysics. He called on Nigerians to unite in efforts to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Plant by next year.
The highlight of the conference was the conferring of fellowship awards on key figures, including NAEG President Akinola George, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, former Minister of Mines and Steel Musa Sada, the Director General of the Mining Cadastral Office Obadiah Nkom, and the NGSA Director General Professor Olusegun Ige, among others.
There were also goodwill messages from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society, and the Chairman of NAEG’s Board of Trustees, Professor Deborah Ajakaiye, among others.
