Tinubu Urges Nigeria to Turn “Minerals into Miracles” as Mining Week Opens in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s vast solid mineral wealth into a major driver of national prosperity, declaring that the country has no justification for poverty given its rich natural endowments.
Speaking on Wednesday at the 2025 Nigeria Mining Week in Abuja, the President—represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume—stated that Nigeria’s abundant resources and human capital should translate into tangible economic progress.
“Nigeria has no reason to be poor, given our abundant resources and talented people. Our challenge is to harness these potentials to bring prosperity to all.
Let us turn our minerals into miracles of development. ‘Minerals to Miracles’ must be our rallying cry,” Tinubu said.
The President described the annual Mining Week as a key international platform for generating ideas and strengthening partnerships toward economic renewal. He also reiterated his government’s commitment to ensuring safety and security across mining communities to protect investors, workers, and host residents.
Highlighting Nigeria’s continental influence, Tinubu said a thriving mining sector in the country would serve as a model for Africa’s resource-based growth strategy.
“When our mining sector thrives, it signals that value-added resource development is Africa’s way forward,” he said, noting that Africa holds about 30 percent of the world’s known mineral reserves, including many critical minerals essential for global technological advancement.
The President urged African countries to manage their natural wealth responsibly, ensuring that value addition, job creation, and industrial development occur within the continent rather than abroad.
At the event, Chris Ochonu, Deputy Director of Communications and Stakeholders Management at the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), called for a harmonised and transparent regulatory environment to sustain growth and attract long-term investment. Ochonu acknowledged progress in licensing reforms but stressed the need to address policy inconsistencies and multiple taxation, which he said continue to discourage credible investors.
Also speaking, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, Executive Secretary of NEITI, described the mining sector as being at a “defining moment,” undergoing sweeping reforms to transform it from an informal and underperforming industry into a cornerstone of economic diversification and energy transition.
Citing data from NEITI’s 2023 Solid Minerals Industry Report, Dr. Orji revealed that while the sector’s revenue rose from ₦339.57 billion in 2022 to ₦401.87 billion in 2023, its overall contribution to GDP remained below 1%.
He noted that artisanal and small-scale miners accounted for over 80% of total production but contributed less than 30% of royalties, exposing deep-rooted governance and structural issues.
“This underscores the need for urgent reform to ensure fairness, efficiency, and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
In his presentation, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake, provided updates on ongoing reforms by the Tinubu administration aimed at repositioning the sector as a major contributor to national revenue and industrial development.
On the sidelines of the event, Dr. Orji also addressed a forum hosted by the Kaduna Mining Development Company, where he emphasised the importance of transparency, accountability, and institutional reforms in enhancing productivity and investor confidence at the state level.
He urged state-owned mining companies to play a proactive role in attracting investment and supporting Nigeria’s broader economic transformation agenda.
