A professional pressure group, the Geological Society of Nigeria, has criticised the low budgetary allocation to the solid minerals sector.
The president of the society, Uba Saidu Malami, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday described the money allocated to the sector in the 2025 budget as grossly inadequate.
He said, “I am compelled to express my deep concern over the grossly inadequate allocation to the development of the solid minerals sector in the 2025 budget. The paltry sum of N9 billion, approximately $8 million, represents a meager 1.67% of the total capital expenditure of N539.7 billion.”
He pointed out that Nigeria is endowed with an abundance of solid minerals, including critical minerals like lithium, nickel, and gold, which are in high demand globally. However, the current allocation falls woefully short of the investment required to unlock the sector’s potential.
He added, “Comparatively, other West African countries are allocating significantly more funds to their mining sectors. For instance, Ghana has allocated GHS 2.3 billion (approximately $340 million, while Côte d’Ivoire has allocated XOF 233 billion (approximately $390 million.”
Malami commended the Tinubu administration’s bullish stance on mining and urged it to back the sector with sufficient funding.
“The current allocation will not support the ambitious roadmap laid out by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, and it will hinder the country’s efforts to diversify its economy away from oil.”
The GSN president further noted that the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Solid Minerals had also rejected the proposed 2025 budget estimates, describing them as “grossly inadequate”
“The committee emphasized the need for a significant upward review to accelerate economic diversification efforts in the sector.
“I urge the government to reconsider the allocation to the solid mineral sector and provide more funds to support its development. This will not only generate revenue and create jobs but also position Nigeria as a major player in the global mining industry,” he said.
Malami urged the present administration to match word with action by peoviding what is needed to elevate it into a major income earner like oil.
“The time for rhetoric is over; it’s time for action. The government must prioritize the solid mineral sector and provide the necessary funding to unlock its potential. The future of Nigeria’s economy depends on it,” he said.