The Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake has announced a comprehensive plan to block leakages and enhance revenue collection in the sector.
According to Alake, this is part of efforts to realise the ambitious goal of getting the sector to contribute 50 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Alake stressed this while on a familiarisation tour of the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), an agency under the Ministry, saying it was something that needed urgent attention, to seal leakages across all agencies and generate funds for poverty alleviation, job creation and wealth generation under the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.
“We will take firm decisions in record time, block all leakages and loopholes to enhance revenue and review all fees paid by operators and businessmen across all the agencies of the ministry,” the minister declared.
Emphasising the pivotal role of the solid minerals sector in the country’s economic landscape, Alake asserted, “The solid minerals sector is the next oil,” underscoring the importance of employing all legitimate means to seal leakages.
During his tour, the minister commended the contribution of the Mining Cadastre Office, urging its staff not only to maintain current successes but also to surpass government targets. The director-general of the MCO, Engr. Simon Nkom, briefed the minister on the agency’s achievements, programmes and challenges, highlighting the need to upgrade its systems for administrative efficiency.
Continuing his visit to the Nigeria Geophysical Survey Agency (NGSA), Alake acknowledged the agency’s vital role in providing essential data for various professional fields. He stated, “Nigeria Geophysical Survey Agency affects every sector of the economy; data, information, and intelligence are power. Every decision-maker needs it”.
The director-general of NGSA, Dr. Garba AbdulRazak briefed the minister on the agency’s mandates, programs, and activities, providing a guided tour of its museum.
Addressing the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG), Alake emphasised the critical role the agency plays in ensuring quality control in the training and practices of professionals in the Nigerian extractive industry. He stated, “COMEG, as a quasi-academic body, is helping to ensure quality control in the training and practices of professionals in the Nigerian extractive industry”.
A statement from the ministry’s head of press and public relations, Alaba Balogun affirmed the minister’s assurance of constant support, cooperation and collaboration to address and resolve the challenges faced by the agencies visited – the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Nigeria Geophysical Survey Agency (NGSA) and Council of Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG).
