Solid minerals minister wants National Assembly to pass laws making value addition compulsory

NIGERIA'S minister for solid mineral development Dele Alake has called on the National Assembly to offer legislative support to promote local value addition in sector as a means of aiding job creation in mineral-rich communities.

As is the case with every other sector of the economy, Nigeria adds very little value to its solid minerals industry . Compared with say agriculture or petroleum, Nigeria's solid minerals sector is largely undeveloped and the government is desperately looking for investors to get the industry off its knees as part of a plan to diversify the economy.

Speaking yesterday while receiving a delegation from the House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals led by its chairman, Hon Jonathan Gbefwi, Mr Alake said value addition has the potential to create significant employment opportunities and benefits for mineral-rich communities. Updating the committee on recent ministry initiatives, the minister mentioned his advocacy for local value addition during recent international mining conferences held in Riyadh and Cape Town.

Mr Alake, who was recently elected as the inaugural chairman of the African Minerals Strategy Group, declared an end to the era of exporting solid minerals without adding commensurate value. Highlighting the paramount importance of security in economic development, the minister referenced recent efforts to secure natural resources and combat illegal mining, including the launch of a new security outfit by the interior minister.

In his response, Hon Gbefwi, affirmed the committee’s commitment to oversight duties and supporting the ministry in advancing the mineral sector, noting its pivotal role in the Nigeria’s economic recovery. He added that he believed that the industry is what will get Nigeria out of the woods.

Hon Gbefwi  said: "We are empowered by the constitution to do oversight and to ensure the executive perform its duty. We intend to stretch to the limit. It is the only sector that can rescue Nigeria from its economic doldrums."

In her vote of thanks, the permanent secretary in the ministry, Dr Mary Ogbe, reiterated the shared commitment between the House Committee and the ministry to harnessing the country’s mineral resources for economic development and diversification. So far, however, there has been very little investment in the sector.