Alake: Technology to play important role in sanitising mining sector

Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, says technology is significant in sanitising and repositioning the mining sector for increased productivity and substantial contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP).

In a statement on Monday, Segun Tomori, special assistant on media to the minister of solid minerals development, said this is in line with the renewed hope agenda of the Tinubu administration.

Speaking while playing host to Uche Nnaji, minister of science, technology and innovation, Alake said the solid minerals sector relies on a huge dose of technology to sanitise the solid minerals sector.

According to the minister, the areas that need sanitising include scientific geo-data generation, security challenges, and all other ancillary matters around the mining value chain. 

“For instance, the security architecture that we are rejigging, we are going to inject a large measure of technology into it,” he said. 

“Where else to go but the science, innovation and technology ministry, to assist us in this regard and that’s why my brother minister has come in and we are consolidating, discussing, and moving the issue forward to ensure that at the end of the day there is synergy in all our operations. 

“That was part of the essence of the ministerial retreat we had last week. So the visit is in furtherance of our collaborative efforts to ensure that the solid minerals ministry is a beneficiary of all the innovations that will be pushed out.”

In his remarks, Nnaji emphasised the need for collaboration in assisting the solid minerals ministry to capitalise on innovations that will keep the minister up to date on mining industry activities.

He said there are a lot of innovations in the science and technology sector. 

Nnaji added “We have a satellite approach to what they do in the solid minerals ministry”

He said the innovations are such that the minister can monitor all issued licenses on his desk, ensuring compliance with mining regulations and preventing illegal intrusions into mining areas.