Hannah Daniel, Abuja
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has described the solid minerals sector as a critical pillar for building a robust and diversified Nigerian economy beyond oil dependency.
Speaking on Thursday at a public hearing on 12 bills aimed at reforming and strengthening the solid minerals industry, the Speaker—represented by Hon. Mark Oseni—said the sector’s development is “not an option, but an imperative” for the nation’s economic future.
He emphasized that the public hearing was not just a legislative formality but “a fundamental pillar of the democratic process,” providing a platform for broad public participation and diverse perspectives on laws that will shape the sector’s future.
“For decades, our economy has been heavily reliant on a single commodity. These bills collectively address key challenges and opportunities in the solid minerals sector—ranging from legal frameworks and institutional reforms to funding mechanisms and human capital development,” Tajudeen said.
He noted that the bills underscore the House’s commitment to equipping Nigeria with the intellectual and technical capacity to harness mineral wealth responsibly. He also stressed that the success of the legislative effort would depend on stakeholders’ input in refining the bills into comprehensive and effective laws that serve the national interest.
Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbewfi, said the exercise goes beyond constitutional responsibility, describing it as a strategic step toward repositioning the sector as “a true pillar of Nigeria’s economic transformation.”
According to him, the solid minerals sector has immense potential for growth, job creation, revenue generation, and industrialization but has remained underutilized due to weak laws, poor funding, and outdated institutional frameworks.
“This House, through the Committee on Solid Minerals Development, is determined to reverse that trend by strengthening the legislative foundation of the sector,” Gbewfi said.
He added that the participatory hearing provides an opportunity for government agencies, industry players, communities, academia, and civil society to contribute toward shaping laws that reflect the realities and aspirations of Nigerians.
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