The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has entered a partnership with the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) to tap the mining potential of Nigeria's North Central zone and create jobs through mineral processing. Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake received the NCDC management team in his office and reported that more than 300 small‑scale and artisanal miners have been organised into cooperatives to move them away from illegal mining and into the formal sector.
A statement from the Minister's Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye‑Wise, quoted Alake saying the Bola Tinubu administration has arrested over 300 illegal miners, while about 150, including foreigners, are currently undergoing prosecution.
Alake added that the region has benefited from the Ministry's local value‑addition policy, noting that mining now contributes more than $2 billion to the national economy. The policy aims to keep processing within the country, curb raw‑material exports and spur industrial growth, job creation and diversification.
Dr Cyril Tsenyil, Managing Director of NCDC, said the visit was meant to explore collaboration, proposing a Special Purpose Vehicle to drive sub‑sector development. Both parties agreed to set up a technical working committee to advance the agenda.
The NCDC, created by the North Central Development Commission (Establishment) Act (2024) under President Bola Tinubu, serves the six states of Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory.
Minister Dele Alake's emphasis on converting over 300 illegal miners into formal cooperatives signals a decisive shift from punitive enforcement to economic inclusion in the North Central mining sector.
The move aligns with the Tinubu administration's broader value‑addition agenda, which already accounts for more than $2 billion in mining revenue. By encouraging in‑country processing, the policy seeks to reduce raw‑material exports and stimulate downstream industries, a strategy that mirrors past attempts to diversify Nigeria's oil‑dependent economy.
For small‑scale miners and local communities, formalisation could mean stable wages, access to training and legal protection, while the proposed Special Purpose Vehicle may attract investment that creates ancillary jobs in transport, equipment supply and services.
If the technical working committee delivers on its mandate, the North Central region could become a template for other zones, showing how coordinated federal‑state partnerships can turn mineral wealth into tangible socioeconomic benefits.
