The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has declared that the sweeping reforms being implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration will ultimately overcome decades of corruption, economic instability, weak institutions and underdevelopment in Nigeria.
Alake stated this in Abuja on Thursday at the maiden edition of the Solid Minerals Excellence Awards 2026, where he defended the Federal Government’s ongoing economic reforms and described the current hardship facing Nigerians as a painful but necessary phase of national rebuilding.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Kania Maliki Andeyaba, the minister said previous administrations had failed to implement critical reforms because they lacked the political courage to confront entrenched interests benefiting from the old system.
“To overcome decades of corruption, economic instability, weak institutions and underdevelopment, the Tinubu administration is undertaking far-reaching reforms that previous governments were unwilling to implement,” he said.
He stressed that enduring national transformation can only be achieved through policies designed for future generations rather than short-term political gains.
According to him, leadership must be driven by “vision, knowledge and courage,” adding that many of the reforms now being implemented had long been identified as necessary for national development.
Alake maintained that the economic challenges currently being experienced across the country were part of a difficult transition towards building a stronger and more sustainable economy.
Drawing parallels with reforms introduced in Lagos years ago, the minister noted that similar policies initially faced resistance before transforming the state into one of Africa’s largest economies through improved revenue generation, institutional efficiency and strategic economic planning.
Speaking on reforms within the mining sector, Alake said the Federal Government had positioned solid minerals as a key pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria’s economic diversification drive aimed at reducing dependence on oil revenue.
He explained that the ministry had embarked on comprehensive reforms targeting illegal mining, insecurity, weak regulation, 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 under the current administration.
The minister added that the government had also reviewed dormant mining licences and strengthened compliance measures to ensure mining assets contribute directly to national development.
On efforts to curb illegal mining, Alake disclosed that over 2,000 trained personnel had been recruited and deployed under the Mining Marshals initiative to protect mining communities and enforce compliance nationwide.
“The move has already resulted in arrests, prosecutions and improved compliance among operators, many of whom have now pledged to work within government regulations,” he said.
The minister further argued that Africa’s mineral resources had historically been exploited for the benefit of foreign economies since the colonial era, insisting that Nigeria must now prioritise local value addition, industrialisation and domestic beneficiation of mineral resources.
He said the Federal Government’s policy direction now focuses on encouraging local mineral processing to stimulate industrial growth, technology transfer, job creation and increased contribution of the mining sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Yusuf Yabo, said the awards ceremony was not only a celebration of achievements in the mining sector but also recognition of reforms, investments, innovation and partnerships driving the industry.
He noted that the Federal Government remained committed to repositioning the solid minerals sector as a major driver of economic diversification, industrial growth and national development.
“The progress we are celebrating today has been made possible through the collective efforts of government, private sector investors, development partners, community leaders and industry stakeholders,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the President of SOMEA, Oladunmi Owo, described the awards as a historic platform created to celebrate individuals and organisations promoting reforms, innovation and sustainable development within Nigeria’s mining industry.
On his part, chief executive officer of D-Gold, Omur Sahinolu, said sustainable mining, responsible governance, technological innovation and credible investment frameworks were essential to building a transparent and globally competitive mining industry in Nigeria.
Several individuals and organisations received awards at the event in recognition of their contributions to the development of the nation’s solid minerals sector.
