Dele Alake: Nigeria shifting focus to solid minerals for economic survival

Dele Alake, minister of steel and development, says the federal government is shifting focus to solid minerals to ensure the nation’s economic survival.

Alake said Nigeria has an abundance of green energy potential that must be put to use because hydrocarbon and oil are fading.

The minister spoke on Wednesday during a programme aired on Television Continental (TVC).

“Green energy is the fashionable thing now. And we have an abundance of green energy potential in the solid minerals sector,” he said.

“But critically, the fundamental reason why we are shifting focus or what this country is shifting attention to the solid mineral sector is for economic survival.

“Because of hydrocarbons, the oil is fading out. If we do not shift attention to exploit our God-given abundance of solid minerals, Nigeria would be in an economic dire strait down the line.”

He explained that the 30-day ultimatum given to illegal miners operating in the country to join legitimate cooperatives was not a form of punishment.

“That ultimatum was not meant to be a punitive measure. The motive is to actually help these so-called illegal miners to bring them into the formal fold and structure so that they themselves can benefit more from the legitimate activities so they can also be protected,” he said.

“In the process, we are setting up a special surveillance task force against illegal mining, illegal operators and even those operating at shortchanged the country.

“We have noticed some operators who under-declare the volume of operations and extractions and they take our rocks away from these countries without paying adequate royalties, taxes, or levies to the appropriate authorities.”