The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has called on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) to focus its intellectual capacity on reshaping the mental attitude of Nigerians, emphasizing that mindset reorientation is critical to effective governance and sustainable national development.
Speaking in Abuja while receiving participants of the Senior Executive Course 47 (2025) from NIPSS, Dr. Alake commended the institute’s reputation as Nigeria’s top policy think tank but urged it to do more in translating ideas into actionable policies that can drive real change.
“We’ve had several development plans in this country, but implementation has often failed due to fragmented approaches,” he noted. “NIPSS was created to inject deep intellectualism into governance, but there’s clearly a disconnect—either public officials are not engaging enough with its recommendations, or the institute’s outputs are not being rendered in practical, implementable formats.”
Turning attention to the mining sector, the Minister decried its long neglect, which he said created room for illegal activities and massive loss of national resources. He, however, expressed confidence in ongoing reforms under the Tinubu administration, citing significant progress.
He disclosed that the newly deployed Mining Marshals have recorded over 300 arrests of illegal miners in less than a year, with about 150 prosecutions underway—including foreign nationals—and the recovery of 98 illegal mining sites. Nine convictions have so far been secured.
Dr. Alake also lauded the success of the ministry’s cooperative-based model for artisanal miners, saying over 250 cooperatives have been formed to formalize their activities, enhance government oversight, and improve revenue generation through royalties.
“Nothing can go right when the national mindset is wrong,” the Minister stated. “President Tinubu’s reforms are aimed at stopping the systemic bleeding—blocking leakages and laying the groundwork for long-term prosperity.”
In his remarks, Mr. David Aloh, who spoke on behalf of the NIPSS delegation, described the session with the Minister as “insightful and enriching,” noting that the team had gained valuable understanding of the ministry’s operations, including those of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) and the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), especially within the context of Nigeria’s green economy drive.
“On behalf of the Director-General, management, faculty, and participants of Course 47, we deeply appreciate this engagement. The knowledge acquired here will guide us in carrying out our mandate under Mr. President’s directive,” he said.
