Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development has pledged to increase the mining sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.
Alake disclosed this on Monday during a meeting with a delegation from the Miners Association of Nigeria, led by its National President, Mr. Dele Ayanleke.
According to him, the country would achieve its diversification agenda by harnessing the revenue potentials of minerals.
“Nigeria has been operating a mono-cultural economy for a long time; a shift to solid minerals is overdue. Our vision is to make solid minerals our pride, a major contributor to Nigeria’s gross domestic product.
“We will diversify from oil to exploit it for the survival of Nigeria,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Nigeria has rich deposits of minerals, including gold, lead, zinc, coal, bitumen, iron ore, limestone, barite and others.
However, according to a report in August by PwC, Nigeria’s mining sector contributed only 0.15 per cent to the GDP at the end of the second quarter of 2023.
But, the government targets a 3 per cent contribution to GDP in 2025 according to the country’s mining roadmap.
