FG, NCDC to transform North-Central into mining hub

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to reposition Nigeria’s solid minerals sector as the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development announced a strategic partnership with the North Central Development Commission to unlock the vast mineral potential of the North Central region and boost job creation through local processing.

Speaking while receiving the management of the Commission in Abuja, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the collaboration aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda, particularly in driving value addition and formalising mining activities.

A statement issued on Sunday by the minister’s media aide, Lara Owoeye-Wise, said the government has ramped up efforts to sanitise the sector and integrate informal miners into the legal framework.

Alake disclosed that more than 300 artisanal and small-scale miners have been organised into cooperatives as part of a broader strategy to curb illegal mining and improve productivity.

The statement read, “The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has teamed up with the North Central Development Commission to unlock the vast mining potential of the North Central region and increase jobs through mineral processing.

“We have intensified persuasive engagement across mining communities, and as a result, over 300 small-scale and artisanal miners have now been organised into cooperatives. This is part of our deliberate effort to move them away from illegal operations and integrate them into the formal sector where they can contribute meaningfully to the economy.”

The minister added that enforcement actions against illegal mining have also yielded results, with hundreds of suspects already facing prosecution.

“So far, we have arrested over 300 illegal miners, and about 150 of them, including foreign nationals, are currently undergoing prosecution. This sends a strong signal that Nigeria is serious about sanitising the sector and enforcing compliance,” he stated.

Alake further revealed that the North Central region has emerged as a key beneficiary of the Federal Government’s local value addition policy, with several mineral processing projects already underway.

“Through our value addition policy, new mineral processing projects have taken off in the North Central region. This is a major shift from the old model where we exported raw minerals with little or no value,” he said.

According to him, the policy has significantly increased the sector’s contribution to the economy.

“Today, mining is contributing over $2bn to the Nigerian economy, and this is just the beginning. By encouraging in-country processing and beneficiation, we are reducing raw material exports, boosting industrial growth, creating jobs and deepening economic diversification,” Alake added.

He emphasised that the Tinubu administration is focused on building lasting institutions and sustainable economic structures.

“The President is committed to building enduring legacies, and institutions like the North Central Development Commission are part of that vision to drive long-term development,” he said.

The minister stressed the need for stronger collaboration between the ministry and regional development agencies to maximise impact.

“The solid minerals sector has a critical role to play in driving broader economic growth. That is why we must build robust partnerships across institutions to ensure that our interventions are coordinated, transparent and impactful,” he noted.

He also charged the leadership of the Commission to focus on service and national development rather than personal gain.

“You have a very critical role to play, and note that you are not doing it for the president or the government. You’re doing it for the Nigerian nation. And your own names would also be etched in the sands of time, that when you were there, when you had the opportunity, you made your own contributions.

“This is my own guiding philosophy, and your conscience will be clear, and you can go to bed in peace. You don’t have to make material acquisition your main focus because materialism is transient, a flash in the pan,” the minister advised.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the Commission, Cyril Tsenyil, said the visit was aimed at forging a strategic partnership with the ministry to accelerate development in the region.

“Our visit is to identify areas of collaboration between the Commission and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development. Partnerships like this are essential for aligning our efforts, leveraging shared resources and driving sustainable development across the North Central region,” he said.

Tsenyil highlighted the vast mineral deposits in the region and proposed the establishment of a Special Purpose Vehicle to drive investment and development in the sub-sector.

“The North Central region is richly endowed with mineral resources. We are proposing the creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle to unlock these resources, attract investment and ensure structured development of the mining sector,” he added.

He noted that such a framework would help accelerate industrialisation and create jobs for the region’s growing population.

The meeting ended with both institutions agreeing to set up a joint technical working committee to drive implementation of agreed initiatives.

The North Central Development Commission was established under the North Central Development Commission (Establishment) Act, 2024, to address infrastructure deficits and promote economic development across Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory.

The Commission is modelled after interventionist agencies like the Niger Delta Development Commission, with a mandate to close development gaps and harness regional economic potential.

The success of the FG–NCDC partnership will depend on effective implementation, transparency and the ability to attract private sector investment into mineral processing and value addition.