By Palma Ileye
Federal Government has called for stronger collaboration among government, industry and academia to accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s mining sector and increase its contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to three per cent by 2030.
The Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi, made the call while delivering the inaugural Annual Lecture of the Faculty of Physical and Earth Sciences at the University of Lagos.
Shinkafi said Nigeria possesses over 44 commercially viable mineral resources spread across more than 500 locations nationwide, yet the sector currently contributes less than one per cent to the country’s GDP.
She disclosed that solid minerals exports reached about ₦354 billion in 2025, representing approximately 0.4 per cent of Nigeria’s total exports and three per cent of non-oil exports.
According to her, the Federal Government has introduced wide-ranging reforms under the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development’s Seven-Point Agenda to reposition the sector for sustainable growth.
The reforms include the establishment of the Nigerian Solid Minerals Corporation, expansion of geological data through the Nigeria Minerals Decision Support System, formalisation of artisanal mining activities, deployment of Mining Marshals to strengthen mine security, revocation of over 2,500 inactive mining licences, and promotion of local mineral processing.
Shinkafi noted that the reforms have significantly boosted government revenue from the sector, with earnings increasing from about ₦16 billion in 2023 to ₦38 billion in 2024 and surpassing ₦70 billion in 2025.
She further revealed that since 2023, the reforms have attracted about $1.3 billion in investments, including what is expected to become Nigeria’s largest mining investment—a proposed 1.5-million-tonne alumina refinery.
The SMDF boss also highlighted the recently launched Early-Stage Mineral Exploration and Research Grant Endowment (EMERGE), describing it as Nigeria’s first competitive funding programme dedicated to university-based geoscience research.
She explained that the initiative would support mineral exploration, research on critical minerals, and research and development projects, with full funding available for eligible master’s and doctoral candidates.
Shinkafi also listed other strategic initiatives being implemented by the Fund, including the National Gold Purchase Programme in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the AFC-SMDF Project Development Facility with the Africa Finance Corporation, and the proposed alumina refinery project.
She encouraged more women to pursue careers in the mining industry, stressing that the sector offers equal opportunities irrespective of gender.
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting national efforts aimed at developing the mining sector through research, innovation and capacity building.
Also speaking, the pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Physical and Earth Sciences, Professor Olayinka Taiwo Asekun, said the university would participate in the EMERGE programme, adding that applications for the research grants would open on July 10, 2026.
