Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Mineral, has attributed illegal mining activities and acts of terrorism in various parts of Nigeria to unnamed “Powerful Nigerians.” Speaking before the House Committee on Solid Minerals to defend the 2024 budget estimates, Alake expressed concerns about influential individuals supporting illegal mining, leading to insecurity in mining areas. He emphasized the need to identify and address these sponsors, revealing that the insecurity has both kinetic and non-kinetic connections.
Alake stressed the importance of establishing a formal structure for mining, similar to the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd, to attract multinational investments. He estimated the conservative worth of Nigeria’s minerals at over $700 billion but highlighted institutional bottlenecks hindering their commercial exploitation. Alake urged the committee’s support for the Nigeria Mining Cooperation, proposing a private sector-driven structure with government equity to prevent future destabilization.
The minister emphasized the significance of host community engagement to maintain law and order around mining activities. He appealed to the committee to reconsider the budget allocation for the ministry, stating that the proposed N24 billion is insufficient. Alake asserted that a budget of N250 billion would enable the ministry to contribute significantly to the nation’s GDP, emphasizing the role of exploration and the need to avoid leaving it solely in private sector hands.
Chairman of the committee, Gaza Gbefwi, acknowledged the solid minerals sector as vital for economic diversification. He criticized the budget estimates as grossly inadequate and pledged the committee’s commitment to collaborate on securing more funding to achieve Alake’s 7-point agenda.
