Tinubu Pursuing Critical Reforms Avoided By Past Govts, Says Minister

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has said President Bola Tinubu’s administration is confronting decades of corruption, economic instability and institutional failure through reforms that previous governments lacked the courage to implement.

Alake spoke yesterday in Abuja at the maiden edition of the Solid Minerals Excellence Awards  where he defended the federal government’s economic policies and described the current hardship being experienced by Nigerians as a necessary sacrifice for long-term national prosperity.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the ministry’s head of press and public relations, Kania Maliki Andeyaba, the minister said the administration remained determined to carry out difficult but critical reforms aimed at repositioning the economy and strengthening key institutions.

He said many of the reforms currently underway had been identified long ago as essential for national growth, but were repeatedly avoided because of resistance from vested interests benefiting from the old order.

“To overcome decades of corruption, economic instability, weak institutions and underdevelopment, this administration is implementing far-reaching reforms that previous governments were unwilling to undertake,” Alake said.

The minister maintained that lasting national transformation could only be achieved through leadership driven by “vision, knowledge and courage,” rather than policies designed for short-term political advantage.

He acknowledged that Nigerians were passing through difficult economic conditions but insisted that the challenges represented a transition period necessary for building a more resilient and sustainable economy.

Drawing comparisons with reforms earlier introduced in Lagos, Alake said policies that initially faced stiff opposition eventually transformed the state into one of Africa’s largest economies through improved revenue generation, institutional efficiency and strategic planning.

Focusing on the mining sector, the minister said the federal government had identified solid minerals as a strategic pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda and a key driver of economic diversification away from oil dependence.

According to him, the ministry has initiated comprehensive reforms targeting illegal mining, insecurity, weak regulation, dormant licenses and lack of transparency within the sector.

He said the digitisation of mining operations and licensing processes had improved transparency, simplified access to licenses and attracted thousands of new investors and operators into the industry.

Alake further disclosed that the government had strengthened compliance mechanisms and reviewed dormant mining licences to ensure the nation’s mineral assets contribute directly to economic development.

On illegal mining, the minister revealed that more than 2,000 personnel had been recruited and deployed under the Mining Marshals initiative to protect mining communities and enforce government regulations across the country.

“The initiative has already resulted in arrests, prosecutions and improved compliance among operators, many of whom have now pledged to operate within the framework of government regulations,” he said.

The minister also stressed the need for Nigeria to end the historical exploitation of Africa’s mineral resources for the benefit of foreign economies by prioritising local value addition and industrialisation.

He explained that the federal government’s current policy direction encourages local processing of minerals to boost industrial growth, technology transfer, employment generation and the sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product.

In his remarks, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Yusuf Yabo, said the awards ceremony reflected the federal government’s commitment to repositioning the mining sector as a critical driver of economic growth, industrial development and job creation.

He noted that the achievements being celebrated were made possible through collaboration among government agencies, private investors, development partners and industry stakeholders.

Also speaking at the event, the president of SOMEA, Oladunmi Owo, described the awards as a landmark platform established to recognise individuals and organisations promoting reforms, innovation and sustainable development in Nigeria’s mining industry.

Chief Executive Officer of D-Gold, Omur Sahinolu, said responsible governance, sustainable mining practices, technological innovation and credible investment frameworks were essential to building a globally competitive mining industry in Nigeria.

Several individuals and organisations received awards at the event in recognition of their contributions to the development of the solid minerals sector.