The mining sector presents significant concerns around human rights and environmental pollution
The federal government has been working on policies to help the mining sector, while it will also attract local and foreign investors. This is a representational image. AFP

Nigeria's Minister of Solid Minerals, Henry Dele Alake, has revealed that the federal government was planning to shift toward solid minerals to boost the country's revenue.

"Our vision is to make solid minerals our pride, a major contributor to Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product," Alake said, Punch reported. "We will diversify from oil, to exploit it for the survival of Nigeria. This is our own contribution to climate change."

The ministry's Head of Press and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, shared Monday that Alake spoke during the meeting with a delegation from the Miners Association of Nigeria, which was led by its national president, Dele Ayanleke.

The federal government has been working on policies to help the mining sector, while it will also attract local and foreign investors.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also been focusing on getting major players to invest in the country, noting that it has vast potential.

Last month, President Tinubu bagged $14 billion U.S. dollars in investment from India during the G20 summit. During the Nigeria-India Presidential Roundtable and Conference held in New Delhi on the sidelines of the summit, Tinubu assured that the African country was ready to provide the best returns on investment.

Following the summit, Tinubu also visited Abu Dhabi to advance his investment promotion objectives alongside addressing the lingering bilateral issues between both countries.

Tinubu also met his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, in New York ahead of the 78th United Nations General Assembly last month to collaborate, noting that South African Mining industries have a role to play in the Nigerian solid minerals development sector.

Tinubu pointed out that Nigeria has great mineral wealth across the country and South Africa consists of good expertise in this sector. Hence, both countries should work together to ensure that it mutually benefits South Africa and Nigeria.

Nigeria consists of a wide variety of solid minerals, including gold, iron ore, lead and zinc, limestone, kaolin, gypsum, coal, and gemstones. Nigeria is also one of the top producers of oil and natural, gas including petrol and diesel.

However, Nigeria is currently going through a tough phase following fuel subsidy removal as the cost of fuel prices has hiked, causing an increase in food and other services prices like Uber.

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