By Stella Odueme
The Minister of Solid Minerals development, Dr Dele Alake, has stressed the pivotal role Nasarawa state plays in advancing the country’s mining sector.
The minister said this while receiving Nasarawa State Governor, Governor Abdullahi Sule and Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, in his office, where affirmed that Nasarawa has been a formidable partner in harnessing the state’s vast minerals potential for national development.
“Lithium, for instance, is quite massive in Nasarawa state. It is like an epicenter of mining in Nigeria which is why it is important for us to always discuss with the governor and collaborate with him to scale up mining activities in the state.
“I have received very warm and robust cooperation from him and the minister of defence, all centered around the development of our solid minerals in Nigeria,” the Minister added.
Dr Alake noted that the reforms and efforts to promote the mining sector over the last 17 months have begun to yield fruit, with global players increasingly expressing interest in the country’s mining sector.
In his remarks, Governor Sule applauded the minister for driving President Bola Tinubu’s agenda on mining development.
However, he highlighted that challenges such as insecurity persists in some areas, and canvassed for further collaboration with the minister and the minister of defence to address.
“The purpose of this meeting is to work together and find solutions to security challenges, so that mining operations can go on, unhindered,” the Governor said.
He disclosed that lithium factories in the state are operating optimally, with additional factories under construction as testament to the importance of private sector ongoing collaboration to drive growth.
Badaru reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to eradicating banditry and other criminal activities nationwide.
He said that the efforts have already led to the resumption of mining exploration activities in Zamfara.
“The bandits are already on the run. The military will not rest until the country is fully secured. The president has given us a clear directive to end insecurity in all parts of the country by the end of the year. The National Security Adviser (NSA), the Chief of Defence Staff and our team are working round the clock to actualise that target,” he noted.
