Dele Alake says Nigeria is prioritising mineral processing and manufacturing to attract investment, create jobs and accelerate industrialisation

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its decision to abandon the long-standing practice of exporting raw minerals, announcing a renewed strategy to position Nigeria’s solid minerals sector as a catalyst for industrialisation through local processing, manufacturing and value addition.

Also read: Nigeria rakes in N24tn from crude oil exports in six months

The FG Ends Raw Mineral Exports policy was outlined on Thursday by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, who said the government is shifting the sector away from an extractive model towards one capable of generating employment, attracting long-term investment and strengthening domestic manufacturing.

Alake, represented by the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Obadiah Nkom, spoke at a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the maiden Nigeria NOW Global Investors Expo 2026.

The minister said Nigeria’s priority was no longer the export of unprocessed mineral resources but the development of industries that convert the country’s mineral wealth into finished and higher-value products.

“The ministry’s approach is to move the sector from simple extraction and export of raw minerals towards a system that supports processing, manufacturing, employment and stronger linkages with other parts of the economy,” Alake said.

He noted that achieving the objective would require sustained investment, modern technology and closer collaboration between government and the private sector.

“This requires patient capital, technical expertise, modern equipment and partnerships that recognise both commercial interests and Nigeria’s development priorities.

“It also requires investors who are prepared to comply with the law, protect host communities and the environment, and maintain transparent relationships with government and other stakeholders,” he added.

Alake stressed that mining sector reforms could not succeed without complementary investments in electricity, transport infrastructure, finance and regulatory certainty.

“A mine cannot operate effectively without reliable power, roads, railways, processing facilities, access to financing and predictable regulation,” he said.

“In the same way, industrial development depends on a steady supply of raw materials, effective logistics and markets that can support production.”

The minister explained that this integrated approach informed the structure of the Nigeria NOW Global Investors Expo, which will involve ministries responsible for solid minerals, industry, trade and investment, power, and petroleum resources.

“The Expo covers areas that fall across several mandates, and no single ministry can address them in isolation,” he said.

Scheduled for November 19 and 20, 2026, at the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, the event is expected to provide investors with direct access to commercially viable projects and senior government officials while addressing critical investment challenges.

According to Alake, discussions will focus on access to finance, infrastructure, licensing, geological data, technology, security and market access, with the aim of identifying practical solutions that improve Nigeria’s investment climate.

He also underscored the importance of state governments and host communities, noting that their cooperation would remain essential to the successful development of mining projects across the country.

The minister urged the media to report accurately on reforms in the mining industry and assured investors that the Federal Government would continue improving policy coordination and regulatory predictability.

Earlier, organisers of the event, EnergyNet, said the Nigeria NOW Global Investors Expo is designed to become the country’s flagship annual investment platform, bringing together governments, investors, development finance institutions, project developers and technology providers to accelerate investments in mining, power, infrastructure, ports and other strategic sectors.

Speaking on behalf of EnergyNet, Portfolio Manager and Head of Corporate Development, Abdoulaye Sylla, said the project-focused forum follows extensive market assessments indicating that Nigeria is increasingly well-positioned to attract higher levels of foreign direct investment.

Sylla disclosed that between 500 and 600 delegates from across the world are expected to attend the inaugural edition, adding that the organisation intends to make the expo an annual fixture in Nigeria’s investment calendar.

Also speaking, Damilola Hamid Balogun, Ambassador of the Youth Energy Summit Nigeria and Co-founder of the Youth Sustainable Development Network, highlighted the importance of youth participation in delivering Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan and achieving its net-zero emissions target by 2060.

The Federal Government has intensified reforms in the solid minerals sector as part of its broader economic diversification strategy aimed at reducing dependence on crude oil revenues.

Also read: Nigeria’s China exports surge 81% in six months

Recent measures have focused on tightening mining regulations, attracting responsible investment, curbing illegal mining and encouraging domestic mineral beneficiation to increase the sector’s contribution to national output.