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Renewed Hope Agenda: Our milestone in the solid minerals sector so far- Dele Alake
Abridged report by the Hon. Minister of Solid Minerals
“When we came into office, Nigeria’s solid minerals sector was underperforming. In 2023, it generated just ₦6 billion in revenue. By the end of 2024, that number had grown to ₦38 billion. That kind of turnaround tells you something is working.
“One of the first things we did was tighten the licensing process. We made it clear that no one gets a mining license without showing a real plan for local processing. Exporting raw minerals without adding value here at home wasn’t helping our economy, and we had to stop that. Since then, we’ve seen real results of over $800 million in processing investments last year alone.
“We’ve got a $600 million lithium processing plant near Kaduna and Niger about to be commissioned. Another $200 million refinery near Abuja is nearly ready. Two more plants are coming online in Nasarawa before the third quarter of this year. These projects mean jobs, technology, and a stronger local economy.
“Exploration has also been a priority. When we took office, Nigeria had only spent $2 million on mineral exploration. By comparison, Côte d’Ivoire had spent $148 million, and South Africa more than $300 million. No serious investor takes you seriously without credible geological data. That’s why this year, we’ve secured ₦1 trillion specifically for mineral exploration to build the foundation for a globally competitive sector.
“We’re also confronting illegal mining head-on. Over 300 arrests were made last year, with 150 prosecutions ongoing and several convictions already secured including foreign nationals. We’re also supporting local miners by formalising their operations. So far, over 250 cooperatives have been established to help small-scale miners get access to finance and share in the revenue.
“Nigeria now chairs the African Mineral Strategy Group, a new bloc focused on local value addition and fairer mineral trade. Our leadership in this space is a direct result of the vision laid out by President Tinubu.
“Investor interest is surging. Just this quarter, the Mining Cadastral Office received over 10,000 applications. That kind of momentum didn’t exist before. It’s a sign that our reforms are working.
“We’ve still got work to do, but the direction is clear. We’re turning Nigeria’s mineral wealth into real economic value for our people, our industries, and our future.”
Two Nigerian-born scientists—Adesola Adegoke, a researcher at Arizona State University (ASU), and Seunnla Adelusi, a PhD candidate at the Université de Sherbrooke, Canada—have been named among the 20 global winners of the Digital GreenTalents Award 2025.
These two Nigerians were announced among the winners during a virtual ceremony held on 25 November. In a statement following the virtual announcement ceremony, the organisers said the 20 awardees for this year joined from different time zones, including “very early morning in Canada and evening hours in the Philippines.”
The digital Green Talent Award is an annual initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) that recognises outstanding young researchers whose work advances sustainability through digital innovation.
Each year, 20 scientists are selected from a competitive global pool for their cutting-edge ideas at the intersection of digitalisation and environmental sustainability.
Alex Otti, the Abia State Governor, on Sunday paid a visit to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
The governor was accompanied by officials of the Sokoto State Government during the closed-door visit.
Nnamdi Kanu was recently moved to Sokoto after he was convicted on terrorism-related charges and handed a life sentence by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Governor Otti had earlier promised to pursue every lawful and political avenue to ensure that Kanu gets justice. Sunday’s visit is seen as part of ongoing efforts by the Abia State Government regarding his case.
Details of the meeting were not made public as of the time of this report.
Armed terrorists have abducted a bride-to-be, her bridesmaid, and eight other residents from Chacho village in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State
The Sokoto abduction occurred around 1:30 a.m., according to residents, when the attackers stormed the village. Most of the victims were women, with only one man also taken.
One resident sustained injuries and is receiving medical treatment. Villagers told reporters that the bride was preparing for her wedding scheduled for later that morning when the raid struck, plunging the community into shock and mourning.
A community member described the attack as “tragic,” noting the delay in security response. “Security operatives were alerted immediately, but they only arrived about an hour after the bandits had fled,” he said, expressing frustration.
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