The Federal Government has reiterated its stance of abandoning the long-standing practice of exporting raw minerals, saying it is repositioning the solid minerals sector to attract investments in local processing, manufacturing and value addition as part of efforts to accelerate industrialisation and create jobs.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the new strategy would transform mining from a largely extractive industry into a key driver of manufacturing, infrastructure development and economic diversification.
Alake spoke on Thursday in Abuja at a press briefing ahead of the maiden Nigeria NOW Global Investors Expo 2026, where he was represented by the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Obadiah Nkom.
The minister said the government’s priority was no longer centred on exporting unprocessed mineral resources but on building industries that convert Nigeria’s mineral wealth into finished products capable of generating employment and strengthening the country’s productive capacity.
He said, “The ministry’s approach is to move the sector from simple extraction and export of raw minerals towards a system that supports processing, manufacturing, employment and stronger linkages with other parts of the economy.”
