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Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, says the administration of President Bola Tinubu is determined to make the solid mineral sector Nigeria’s “new oil and gas”.
Alake spoke on Friday in Abuja at the graduation of participants of a jewellery-making training.
The training is a programme of the ministry in conjunction with the World Bank-assisted Mindiver Project.
The minister said the federal government will eliminate illegal mining with the effective collaboration of security agencies.
Alake said the years of untamed illegal mining have “deprived the country of substantial revenue”.
He said Nigerians have no business going abroad to buy jewellery despite the country’s potential to contribute immensely to the global market.
“It will no longer be business as usual, no matter the identity of whoever is involved in this economic crime, as the ministry will work with other relevant agencies to tackle the menace,” NAN quoted Alake as saying.
“The solid minerals sector is the focal point of generating revenue for the country. It is now the next petroleum of Nigeria. It is a known fact that Nigeria, with its large population, has a huge potential for jewellery.
“It is imperative to create a local jewellery industry that will substantially meet local demand for jewellery products. The local jewellery industry will also increase import substitution, create jobs and boost the export value of Nigeria’s gemstones and jewellery.”
Alake said the ministry decided to train 30 master jewellers to support the country’s economic diversification project.
The minister congratulated the graduates for completing the programme, adding that the jewellery sector could “contribute significantly to national economic growth”.