TheCable

Oladele Alake, the minister of solid minerals development, says the federal government’s diversification from hydrocarbon to making the minerals sector major contributor to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) is a contribution to climate change.

Alake spoke on Monday while receiving the delegation of the Miners Association of Nigeria led by Dele Ayanleke, the national president.

The delegation included representatives of the VUKA group, co-organiser of the forthcoming Nigeria mining week and Price Waterhouse Coopers, foremost accounting firm.

The minister said Nigeria has been operating a mono-cultural economy for long, adding that the shift to solid minerals is overdue.

Alake said the ministry is committed to making the required policies to ensure that its regulatory framework is more conducive for local and foreign investors. 

“Our vision is to make solid minerals our pride, a major contributor to Nigeria’s gross domestic product,” the minister said.

“We will diversify from oil, to exploit it for survival of Nigeria. This is our own contribution to climate change.”

Alake said the federal, state and local governments would come together to resolve any issues within the ambit of the law.

Speaking on securing the mining sector environment for maximum yield to the federal government, the minister said  high-end technology and inter-agency taskforce would be deployed to arrest the menace.

Alake also sought partnership with the miners’ association to strengthen the ministry’s capacity, as well as to enhance the growth and repositioning of the sector.

In his remarks, Dele Ayanleke, the national president of the association, said the ministry’s seven-point agenda would consolidate and enhance the sector for maximum contribution to national development.