Tag: Dele Alake

‘FG launches gold refinery in Lagos’ –  Minister 

Aminu Imam
Dele Alake on gold refinery

The Federal Government has inaugurated a high-purity gold refinery in Lagos, as part of a broader push to strengthen Nigeria’s local mineral processing capacity and position the country as a leading hub for critical minerals in Africa. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, disclosed the developments on Tuesday  during a bilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, ahead of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  According to Alake, the Lagos refinery is already operational. “The projects mark tangible outcomes of…

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‘Tinubu’s mining reforms yield 6-fold revenue increase, $800m FDI’ – Alake

Aminu Imam
Alake

Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, driven by the Tinubu administration’s new policy of local value-addition and a tightened licensing regime, attracted over $800 million in processing projects last year. The sector also generated over ₦38 billion in revenue in 2024, up from just ₦6 billion the previous year, despite receiving only 18% of its ₦29 billion budgeted allocation. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, revealed this during a feature interview for an upcoming State House documentary marking President Tinubu’s second anniversary, said the sector has witnessed an increase in…

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Senate proposes new Special Security Force on illegal mining

Aminu Imam
Alake on mining

The 10th Senate is pushing for the creation of a specialised security force, the Nigerian Mine Rangers Service (NMRS), aimed at curbing illegal mining activities across the nation. The Bill, which has successfully passed its second reading, is sponsored by Senator Mohammed Onawo (PDP, Nasarawa-South). During the debate, Senator Onawo emphasised that the NMRS, once established, would be responsible for protecting mining operations, enforcing environmental and safety regulations, and promoting sustainable mining practices in Nigeria. He detailed that this specialised service would combat illegal mining and assist trapped miners, provide…

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FG raises mining rates by 50 percent

Aminu Imam
Dele Alake

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, has raised the dues and rates paid by operators in the mining sector. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, announced the price increase at a press conference at the Ministry’s  headquarters yesterday, in Abuja. He said the Government increased a total of 286 rate regimes ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent, adding that compliance begins immediately. He also warned that defaulters will have their licenses revoked. The Minister said the review was necessary due to the paucity of…

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FG launches National Gold Purchase Programme to boost Naira’s value

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government yesterday announced the official launch of the National Gold Purchase programme, (NGPP), which aims to increase the country’s reserves and boost the value of the Naira. Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, revealed this information through his official X account, when he presented the gold bars to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He explained that the bars were sourced from artisanal and small-scale gold miners and refined by an agency of the Ministry, the Solid Minerals Development Fund. The Minister also disclosed that…

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FG revokes 924 dormant mining licences

Aminu Imam
FG mining licences

…Eyes new investors The Federal Government has revoked an additional 924 dormant mineral licences with immediate effect. According to Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, the affected titles include 528 exploration licences, 20 mining leases, 101 quarry licences, and 273 small-scale mining licences. In November, more than 1,600 mining titles were revoked for non-payment of statutory fees as part of sweeping reforms in the sector. Speaking during the briefing on Wednesday, Alake lamented the high rate of licence racketeering, as well as dormant mineral licences, which he assured of…

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High Cost of Public Transportation: ‘Absence of gas refilling points, manpower stall CNG buses rollout’ — Alake

Aminu Imam

Indications emerged, on Wednesday, that the absence of relevant personnel and fuelling points around the country is responsible for the delays in deploying the long-awaited Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses. While in the United Arab Emirates, (UAE) President Bola Tinubu had assured Nigerians that he would unveil the buses, which have been produced by Innoson Motors and parked at Eagles Square, Abuja. Nigerian workers are facing untold hardships over the federal government’s unfulfilled promises made since July to cushion the high cost of public transportation arising from the May 29…

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FG revokes 1,633 mining licenses

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, has revoked 1,633 minerals titles previously given to non-complying mining companies. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, announced this during a press briefing yesterday, in Abuja. According to him, the licenses of these mineral title holders were revoked due to failure to pay mandatory annual service fees of N1, 500 per cadastral unit. He said, “The Mining Cadastre Office has recommended the revocation of 1,633 mineral titles as follows: Exploration Licence, 536; Quarry Licence, 279; Small-Scale Mining Licence,…

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“We’ll make solid minerals our largest source of revenue” – FG

Aminu Imam

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has disclosed that his administration is working towards making solid minerals Nigeria’s largest source of revenue. Tinubu stated this on Tuesday, at the second edition of the ongoing African Natural Resource and Energy Investment Summit, AFNIS, with the theme: “A Just Transition”,whichheld at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said Nigeria was able to make petroleum its largest source of revenue, and that Nigeria can do it again with solid…

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“You have no right to ban mining activities” – FG cautions Governors

Aminu Imam

…Says mining belongs exclusively in the purview of FG The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, has warned governors against banning mining activities within their States. The Minister, who made these remarks during a pre-event press conference in Abuja for the 8th edition of the annual ‘Nigerian Mining Week 2023’, insisted that no governor possesses the rightful authority to interfere with mining operations in any State in the country. According to Alake, “For a State to wake up and say it is regulating mining activities is like a State waking…

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