The federal government has restated its commitment to the implementation of a roadmap for the development of the energy transitions and critical minerals value chain in Nigeria.
The minister of solid minerals development, Dele Alake, reiterated it while declaring open a two-day stakeholders workshop on the implementation of the roadmap on Friday in Abuja.
Mr Alake, represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Faruk Yabo, said the administration of President Bola Tinubu remained determined to harness the immense potential of its mineral resources at a sustainable level.
He said the move was aimed at driving industrialisation and positioning Nigeria as a key player in global energy.
He emphasised that the high demand for critical minerals due to the energy transition required concerted efforts by stakeholders to develop their potential for local development.
“Technology is moving at an unprecedented pace.
“These are the backbones for solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and their storage systems and, of course, other local technologies.
“Nigeria is blessed with abundant deposits of these minerals, and our mining sector remains underexposed and largely underdeveloped,” he said.
Mr Alake said the workshop aims to facilitate adopting a collaborative approach to policy making.
“We are today incorporating this particular roadmap.
“By doing that, we bring together governments, industries, communities, academia and of course, our development partners toward shaping the shared vision,” he said.
He added that the road map aimed to build energy infrastructure and human capital, strengthen governance, security, environmental compliance, and stewardship, alongside supporting artisanal and small-scale miners while promoting industrial-scale operations.
“The roadmap will ensure that mining benefits flow equitably to our communities and contribute to a broader environment across federal, state, and local government areas..
“This workshop is, therefore, unique because we are adopting a collaborative approach to policy making,” he said.
According to Mr Alake, the roadmap will complement the ministry’s seven-point agenda, which goes as far as aligning its continental framework, such as the African rare mineral strategy and African mining vision.
This, he said, would ensure that Nigeria’s voice remained strong at regional and global forums.
The minister urged the participants to be open-minded, forward-looking, and practical in their contributions during discussions.
“Let us identify concrete actionable steps that will enable Nigeria to be competitive around these incorporated value chains toward job creation, industrial linkages, attracting investments, and supporting our commitment to the low-carbon future,” he said.
(NAN)
