Alake supports the South-South plan to unlock Nigeria’s solid mineral wealth

The Federal Government is committed to supporting the efforts of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) to unlock the region’s mineral potential and promote sustainable mining.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, made the commitment when a delegation of the SSDC, led by its Director General, Usoro Offiong Akpabio, visited the ministry in Abuja.

Alake said the partnership aligns with the Federal Government’s broader strategy of working with regional development commissions to accelerate economic growth across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

He noted that while the South-South region is widely recognized for its oil and gas resources, it also has significant solid mineral deposits capable of supporting economic diversification.

According to the minister, ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s mining sector focus on encouraging local processing, attracting investment, strengthening regulation and promoting responsible mining practices.

He said the reforms have helped increase government revenue from the sector and helped attract more than $2.6 billion in foreign direct investment into Nigeria’s solid minerals industry.

Alake added that investments in mineral processing plants are creating job opportunities and strengthening Nigeria’s industrial development.

The government encourages states to participate in mining

The minister urged South-South states to take advantage of the federal government’s framework that allows states to directly participate in mining through special purpose vehicles (SPVs) and legally obtained mining licenses.

He said several states have already secured mining approvals through the initiative.

However, Alake cautioned state governments against creating separate mining regulations outside the national framework, stressing that a unified regulatory system was necessary to maintain investor confidence.

“We have a common goal; we just need to harmonize our strategies and tactics to achieve it,” he said.

The minister assured the SSDC that the ministry will continue to engage the commission in investment-focused engagements designed to highlight mining opportunities in the South-South region.

SSDC seeks partnership on sustainable mining

Speaking during the visit, SSDC Director-General Usoro Offiong Akpabio said the commission was interested in working with the ministry to promote sustainable mining, environmental innovation, investment and job creation.

He said the commission will work alongside relevant government agencies, state authorities and security organizations to support the training and formalization of artisanal miners.

The SSDC leadership also expressed commitment to organizing regional stakeholder engagements aimed at connecting investors with specific mining opportunities in South-South states.

The partnership is part of the Federal Government’s emerging approach to link Nigeria’s natural resources with regional development frameworks to promote industrialisation, job creation and sustainable economic growth.

Basic information

Nigeria has historically been heavily dependent on crude oil revenues despite having significant mineral deposits including: gold, lithium, tin, tantalite, limestone, barite, coal, iron ore

The federal government has increasingly promoted solid minerals as a key pillar of economic diversification, aiming to reduce dependence on oil and develop local processing industries.

The South-South region, traditionally known for oil production, is being encouraged to explore mineral resources as part of broader economic transformation efforts.