The Federal Government has entered a strategic alliance with the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) to transform Nigeria’s North-Central zone into a premier mineral processing hub. This move, announced by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, aims to shift the region’s economic focus from raw material exportation to high-value local processing and job creation.
The partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda, focusing on “value addition” as a prerequisite for mining licenses. By processing minerals within the country, the government intends to retain wealth and stimulate industrial growth across the seven constituent areas: Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, and the FCT.
Formalizing the Artisanal Sector
A cornerstone of this new strategy is the integration of informal miners into the legal economy. Minister Alake revealed that over 300 artisanal and small-scale miners have already been organized into cooperatives. This shift is designed to curb the environmental and economic damage caused by illegal operations while providing miners with better access to technology and capital.
”We are moving them away from the shadows and into the formal sector where they can contribute meaningfully to the national GDP,” Alake stated during a meeting with NCDC leadership in Abuja.
Crackdown on Illegal Mining
While the government is offering a carrot to cooperative-minded miners, it is also wielding a stick against offenders. The Minister confirmed that enforcement actions have led to the arrest of over 300 illegal miners. Currently, approximately 150 suspects, including several foreign nationals, are undergoing prosecution.
Economic Impact and Local Value
According to the Ministry, the mining sector currently contributes over $2 billion to the Nigerian economy. The administration expects this figure to rise sharply as more processing plants come online in the North-Central region.
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The Managing Director of the NCDC, Cyril Tsenyil, proposed the creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to attract private investment. This framework would streamline funding for large-scale mining projects and ensure that the region’s “vast mineral deposits” lead to tangible infrastructure development.
A Mandate for Regional Growth
Established under the NCDC Act of 2024, the Commission is modeled after the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Its primary goal is to close the infrastructure gap in the Middle Belt. Both the Ministry and the NCDC have agreed to form a joint technical working committee to oversee the immediate implementation of these mining initiatives.
