Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake, has reaffirmed that the decision of the Federal government to diversify from hydrocarbon to making the minerals sector major contributor to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is our contribution to climate change.

Alake droppedthis hint when he received a delegation of the Miners Association of Nigeria, led by their National President, Mr Dele Ayanleke. The delegation comprised representatives of the VUKA group, co-organizer of the forthcoming Nigeria Mining Week and Price Waterhouse Coopers, foremost accounting firm.

While commending the association for its recommendations and consistent role in organizing the Mining Week; Alake stated that Nigeria has been operating mono- cultural economy for long noting that the shift to solidminerals is overdue.

He said: “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 survival of Nigeria. This is our own contribution to climate change.”

Tothis end, Alake emphasised that the ministry is committed to making requisite policies “that will sanitize and rejig the regulatory framework and to make it more conducive for local and foreign investors to play”.

On the issue of incursion by the second tier of government into mining, Alake stressed that the Federal Government, will engage the state government and local government with a view to resolving surrounding issues within the ambit of the law.

Speaking on securing the mining sector environment formaximum yield to the Federal government, the Minister revealed that high end technology will be deployed coupled with inter-agency taskforce to arrest the menace completely. He therefore, sought partnership with the Miners Association of Nigeria to strengthen capacity in this regard for the growth and repositioning of the sector.

In his earlier remarks, the National President of Miners Association of Nigeria, Mr Dele Ayanleke, in a vote of confidence, expressed absolute assurance that the seven point agenda unfolded by the Minister of Solid Minerals under the renewed hope agenda ofthis present administration will consolidate and enhance the sector for maximum contribution to national development.

•PHOTO: 2nd Right: Minister for Solid Minerals Devpt., Dr Oladele Alake; 1st Right: Mr Dele Ayanleke, National President, Miners Association of Nigeria;2nd Left: Mr Ime Ekrikpo, Director Investment Promotion Dept; & rep. From VUKA Group & Price Waterhouse Coopers