By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA- THE Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, weekend, assured that Nasarawa State will be Nigeria’s mining hub as the lithium industry booms.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr Abdullahi Sule at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

Alake noted that Lithium deposits in Nasarawa State are quite massive, therefore, it has attracted investors who are already deep into lithium activities, while pointing out that Nasarawa has been a formidable partner in harnessing the state’s vast minerals’ potential for national development.

He said: “Lithium, for instance, is quite massive in Nasarawa state. It is like an epicenter of mining in Nigeria, which is why it is important for us to always discuss with the governor and collaborate with him to scale up mining activities in the state.

“I have received very warm and robust cooperation from him and the minister of defence, all centred around the development of our solid minerals in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, the Minister said the reforms and efforts to promote the mining solid minerals sector over the last 17 months have begun to bear fruit, with global players increasingly expressing interest in Nigeria’s mining industry.

The Governor in his remarks also commended and appreciated the Minister being in the forefront effectively driving the President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on mining development.

He also disclosed that lithium factories in the state are operating optimally, with additional factories under construction, highlighting the imperative of ongoing collaboration with the private sector to strengthen the mining value chain in the state.

However, the Governor acknowledged challenges including insecurity had persisted in some parts of the State, therefore, making it imperative for further collaboration with the Minister including the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru to protect the people and the minerals in the state.

“The purpose of this meeting is to work together and find solutions to security challenges, so that mining operations can go on, unhindered”, he added.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Defence Minister, Abubakar Badaru who also was on visit to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake maintained the Tinubu administration remains committed to eradicating banditry and other criminal activities nationwide, and added that the ongoing military operations across the country are widely yielding the desired results, which he pointed out that mining exploration activities have resumed in Zamfara.

“The bandits are already on the run. The military will not rest until the country is fully secured. The President has given us a clear directive to end insecurity in all parts of the country by the end of the year. The National Security Adviser (NSA), the Chief of Defence Staff, and our team are working round the clock to actualize that target”, he said.