*Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake (middle), when he received the Director-General of the South-South Development Commission, Ms Usoro Offiong Akpabio (left) , and her delegation at the ministry in Abuja.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has assured the South-South Development Commission of the Federal Government’s support in efforts to unlock the region’s solid mineral potential.
Alake gave the assurance when he received the Director-General of the South-South Development Commission, Ms Usoro Offiong Akpabio, and her delegation at the ministry in Abuja.
The minister noted that although the South-South region is widely recognised for its oil and gas wealth, its solid mineral resources also present significant opportunities for investment, job creation and economic growth.
He said the ministry was ready to collaborate with the commission to ensure the region’s mineral resources were developed responsibly, while promoting local processing and value addition for the benefit of the people.
According to him, the meeting also focused on opportunities for states in the region to participate directly in mining through properly structured state-owned entities and the acquisition of valid mining titles.
Alake said both the ministry and the commission shared a common objective of aligning their strategies and working together to maximise the economic potential of the South-South’s mineral resources.
“Our task is to align our strategies and work together to unlock the South-South’s full mineral potential,” he said.
