The Federal Government has called on operators in the solid minerals sector to formalise their activities in order to boost national development and improve Nigeria’s export competitiveness.
Speaking at a strategic programme on the formalisation of solid minerals held in Akure, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, said the sector holds significant opportunities for economic advancement if properly structured.
Ayeni, represented by the State Coordinator of NEPC, Mrs Florence Okafor, stressed the need for operators to adopt best practices and comply with regulatory requirements.
According to her, “I urge all stakeholders to fully embrace strategies needed to reposition this sector. Let us build a solid minerals ecosystem that supports prosperity, transparency, sustainability and export growth. Let us commit to formalisation as a pathway to competitiveness, value creation and national development.”
She explained that the programme was designed to transform the solid minerals space into a major revenue source and a driver of industrial growth, adding that NEPC remained committed to strengthening value chains and enhancing Nigeria’s global market presence.
In her lecture titled “The Imperatives of Formalisation of Artisanal Mining for Development,” Mrs Oyinkan Duke of NEPC’s Solid Minerals Directorate noted that 85 per cent of activities in the sector were illegal. She said misconceptions about licensing processes had contributed to widespread informality, but added that NEPC was already working with state committees to capture mining activities and encourage clustering to boost value addition.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Mining, Mrs Folawe Sipasi Aluko, said all operators must obtain genuine licences for their activities.
She lamented that rampant illegal mining was draining revenue that should accrue to government and urged NEPC to deepen collaborations aimed at curbing the problem.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperative Services, Mr Toyin Oni, said the initiative aligns with the state’s economic development agenda.
He commended NEPC for its consistent efforts to strengthen the non oil sector, noting that formalising operations would enhance export competitiveness and promote sustainable development.
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