The Federal Government has moved to deepen collaboration with the South-South Development Commission to unlock the region’s vast but largely untapped solid mineral resources and turn its mineral wealth into new investments, jobs and economic opportunities.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed this after receiving the Director-General of the South-South Development Commission, Ms. Usoro Offiong Akpabio, and her delegation at the ministry in Abuja.
Alake said although the South-South region is widely recognised for its oil and gas wealth, its mineral deposits present another major opportunity capable of diversifying the regional economy and creating greater value for its people.
He assured the commission of the ministry’s full support in efforts to develop the region’s mineral resources responsibly, while promoting local processing and value addition.
The minister said the Federal Government was particularly interested in ensuring that mineral resources are not merely extracted and exported, but processed locally to generate jobs, strengthen industries and maximise their economic benefits.
The meeting also focused on the role states can play directly in the mining sector.
According to Alake, states have opportunities to participate in mining through properly structured state-owned entities and valid mining titles, providing a pathway for sub-national governments to take advantage of the country’s mineral wealth.
He stressed the need for both the ministry and the South-South Development Commission to align their strategies in order to effectively harness the region’s mineral potential.
“There is a shared objective here. Our task is to align our strategies and work together to unlock the South-South’s full mineral potential,” Alake said.
The engagement comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to position solid minerals as a major pillar of Nigeria’s economic diversification drive and reduce dependence on oil revenues.
