The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has said the reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will address decades of corruption, economic instability, weak institutions and underdevelopment in Nigeria.
Alake made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja at the maiden edition of the Solid Minerals Excellence Awards 2026, where he said the current administration is pursuing far-reaching reforms that previous governments failed to implement due to lack of political will.
The minister said the reforms, though difficult, are necessary to reposition the country for sustainable growth, noting that enduring national transformation can only be achieved through policies designed to benefit future generations rather than short-term political interests.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Kania Maliki Andeyaba, Alake said leadership must be guided by vision, knowledge and courage, adding that many of the reforms currently being implemented had long been identified as necessary but were resisted by those who benefited from the old system.
He described the present economic hardship as a painful but necessary transition period required to build a stronger and more sustainable economy.
Drawing from his experience in Lagos State, the minister said similar reforms introduced years ago initially faced resistance but later transformed the state into one of Africa’s largest economies through improved revenue generation, institutional efficiency and strategic economic planning.
On the solid minerals sector, Alake said the Federal Government has identified mining as a major pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at diversifying the economy and reducing dependence on oil revenue.
He said the ministry had launched reforms to tackle illegal mining, weak regulation, insecurity, dormant licences and lack of transparency in the sector.
According to him, the digitisation of mining operations and licensing processes has improved transparency, simplified access to licences and attracted thousands of new investors and operators.
He added that the ministry also reviewed dormant mining licences and strengthened compliance measures to ensure that mining assets contribute directly to national development.
Alake further disclosed that the government had expanded the Mining Marshals initiative by recruiting and deploying over 2,000 trained personnel to combat illegal mining and secure mining communities across the country.
He said the initiative has already resulted in several arrests, prosecutions and increased compliance among operators, with many pledging to operate within government regulations.
The minister also stressed the need for Nigeria to prioritise local value addition, industrialisation and domestic beneficiation of mineral resources, noting that Africa’s minerals had historically been exploited for the benefit of foreign economies since the colonial era.
He said the government’s current policy direction is focused on encouraging local mineral processing to boost industrial growth, enhance technology transfer, create jobs and increase the sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Yusuf Yabo, said the event celebrated achievements in the mining sector while recognising partnerships, investments, innovation and reforms under the current administration.
He said the event also underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning the solid minerals sector as a key driver of economic diversification, industrial growth, job creation and national development.
Also speaking, Oladunmi Owo said the awards platform was created to recognise individuals, institutions and organisations driving reforms, innovation and sustainable development in Nigeria’s mining industry.
Chief Executive Officer of D-Gold, Omur Sahinolu, said sustainable mining, responsible governance, technological innovation and credible investment frameworks are essential for building a transparent and globally competitive mining industry in Nigeria.
Several individuals and organisations received awards at the ceremony in recognition of their contributions to the development of the country’s solid minerals sector.