General
Tinubu Affirms Commitment to Boosting, Safety of Mining Sector
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has assured that the federal government remained committed to ensuring mining areas across Nigeria are safe for all stakeholders, including investors, workers, and host communities.
The President made the remarks on Wednesday at the 2025 Nigeria Mining Week held in Abuja where he was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SSG), Mr George Akume.
Mr Tinubu said, “Nigeria has no reason to be poor, given our abundant resources and talented people.
“Our challenge is to harness these potentials to bring prosperity to all. Let us turn our minerals into miracles of development. Minerals to miracles must be our rallying cry.”
Describing the Nigeria Mining Week as “an emerging global forum generating ideas to guide the nation’s journey toward economic renewal through investor and company collaboration”, the President emphasised Nigeria’s continental leadership role, stating, “When our mining sector thrives, it signals that value-added resource development is Africa’s way forward.”
He noted that Africa held about 30 per cent of the world’s known mineral reserves and significant deposits of the critical minerals driving the 21st-century global economy.
“We must harness this wealth responsibly, ensuring that more value remains within our economies, creating jobs and industrial clusters,” the President urged.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, presented a status report on reforms initiated by the present administration to transform the mining sector and reposition it as a driver of economic growth.
Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Director, Communications & Stakeholders Management, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr Chris Ochonu, called on policymakers to ensure a harmonised, transparent, and predictable regulatory framework for Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, to sustain growth and attract long-term capital investments.
Mr Ochonu said that although findings showed significant improvements in the licensing process, it called for equal priority to address policy overlaps and multiple taxation, which continue to discourage credible investors and limit sectoral growth.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Mr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, said, “Nigeria’s mining sector stands at a defining moment, undergoing far-reaching reforms aimed at repositioning it from a largely informal and underperforming space into a cornerstone of our economic diversification and energy transition strategy.”
Citing NEITI’s 2023 Solid Minerals Industry Report, Mr Orji noted that the sector’s contribution to GDP remains below 1 per cent, even though revenues grew modestly from N339.57 billion in 2022 to N401.87 billion in 2023.
He emphasised that despite this growth, the figures are far below the sector’s full potential.
“Our data further reveal that artisanal and small-scale mining accounted for over 80 per cent of total production volumes but contributed less than 30 per cent of royalties paid. This underscores deep governance and structural challenges that demand urgent reform,” he stated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, has disclosed that the state government has not restricted the movement of people during the re-introduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
Responding to an enquiry by an X user, Faveo Autos, on Saturday, he said the exercise was not brought back to restrict the movement of residents, noting that arresting anyone during the sanitation was unlawful and not backed by law.
However, he encouraged Lagosians to use the period to keep their surroundings clean.
“What is the fine for movement during environmental [sanitation]?” Mr Wahab was asked by Faveo Autos today.
In his response, the Commissioner said, “For clarity, there is no restriction on movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Consequently, arresting anyone on the basis of movement during the exercise is unlawful and does not represent the position or policy of the Lagos State Government.
“The monthly environmental sanitation exercise was reintroduced primarily to restore and strengthen the culture of environmental cleanliness across the state.
“The initiative is backed by the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017. However, the law does not provide for any restriction on movement during the exercise.
“Our focus is on encouraging Lagosians to embrace environmental sanitation as a civic responsibility and a shared commitment to maintaining a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos, rather than relying on enforcement measures.”
Life is full of unexpected moments that test our patience, strength, and perspective. Everyone experiences setbacks, disappointments, and periods of uncertainty. While these moments can feel overwhelming, they also provide opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery.
One of the most valuable lessons we learn is that difficult situations rarely last forever. Time, reflection, and a willingness to adapt often help us move beyond even the toughest circumstances. Maintaining a positive outlook and focusing on practical solutions can make a significant difference.
Relationships also play an important role in overcoming hardships. Support from family, friends, or mentors reminds us that we are not alone. At the same time, learning to let go of anger and resentment can free us from emotional burdens that prevent us from moving forward.
The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive. It is nothing to die. It is frightful not to live. Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.
Personal growth is not about avoiding challenges but about responding to them with resilience and wisdom. Every experience, whether positive or negative, contributes to the person we become. By embracing change and practicing gratitude, we can create a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
In the end, moving forward requires courage, forgiveness, and hope. When we choose to focus on what we can control instead of dwelling on the past, we open ourselves to new opportunities and a brighter future.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The establishment of four new army divisions has been approved by President Bola Tinubu, bringing the total to 12.
In a statement on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, it was stated that the President also authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to strengthen national security.
The new divisions created include 5 Division, with the headquarters in Makurdi covering Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States; 9 Division, with the headquarters in Ilorin covering Kwara and Niger States; 10 Division, with the headquarters in Jalingo covering Taraba and Adamawa States; and 83 Division, with the headquarters in Benin City covering Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States.
It was disclosed that the establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.
Implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, will be completed by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
The statement said the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions will improve the operational effectiveness of the security agency and strengthen national defence capabilities further.
Before now, the Nigerian Army operated 1 Division, with the headquarters in Kaduna covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States; 2 Division, with the headquarters in Ibadan covering Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States; 3 Division, with the headquarters in Jos covering Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States; 6 Division, with the headquarters in Port Harcourt covering Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States; 7 Division, with the headquarters in Maiduguri covering Borno and Yobe States; 8 Division, with the headquarters in Sokoto covering Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States; 81 Division, with the headquarters in Lagos covering Lagos and Ogun States; and 82 Division, with the headquarters in Enugu covering Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States.
Mr Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.
He lauded the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
