President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria has no reason to be poor, given its vast solid mineral deposits and human capital potential. Speaking at the 2025 Nigeria Mining Week in Abuja, the President, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, urged stakeholders to turn the country’s “minerals into miracles of development” and pledged government commitment to safer and more productive mining zones nationwide.
Tinubu said Africa holds about 30 percent of the world’s mineral reserves and must ensure more value addition within the continent. He added that Nigeria’s mining success would strengthen Africa’s position in global resource development and job creation.
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Deputy Director of Communications at NEITI, Chris Ochonu, called for a transparent and harmonised regulatory framework to attract long-term investment in the solid minerals sector. He warned that multiple taxation and policy overlaps continue to hinder progress despite improvements in licensing processes.
NEITI’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, noted that although sector revenue rose from ₦339.57 billion in 2022 to ₦401.87 billion in 2023, its contribution to GDP remains below 1 percent. On his part, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Oladele Alake, presented updates on ongoing reforms to formalise artisanal mining, promote transparency, and position the sector as a key driver of Nigeria’s economic diversification.
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