By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria’s solid minerals sector recorded a boom of 337 per cent in two years, jumping from N16 billion in 2023 to over N70 billion in 2025, according to the chief executive of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), Mrs Fatima Umaru Shinkafi.

She disclosed that the sector also recorded a remarkable 33.5 per cent real growth in 2025, while reforms attracted fresh investment commitments worth about $2.6 billion, including a $1.3 billion alumina refinery described as the single biggest mining investment in Nigeria’s history.

Mrs Shinkafi gave out these figures at the maiden Annual Lecture of the Faculty of Physical and Earth Sciences, University of Lagos (UNILAG), where she declared that stronger collaboration among government, industry and academia is the master key to unlocking Nigeria’s vast mineral wealth.

Delivering the keynote lecture titled Building Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Future: The Power of Academia, Government and Industry in Partnership, she lamented that despite Nigeria’s deposits of more than 44 commercially viable minerals spread across over 500 locations, the industry still contributes less than one per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

She, however, said the story is changing under the Seven-Point Agenda of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, with reforms already repositioning mining as a major driver of economic growth.

The SMDF boss also unveiled the Early-Stage Mineral Exploration and Research Grant Endowment (EMERGE), describing it as Nigeria’s first competitive research funding platform dedicated to geoscience studies in universities.

According to her, the initiative will fund mineral exploration, critical minerals research and postgraduate studies, while equipping successful applicants with technical training and access to investment opportunities.

She challenged UNILAG researchers to seize the opportunity by submitting quality proposals, insisting that research remains the foundation for building a globally competitive mining industry.

Mrs Shinkafi then urged young women to embrace careers in science and mining, stressing that Nigeria’s hidden mineral wealth can only be fully unlocked through the innovation, skills and determination of the next generation.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The chief executive of Dangote Cement Plc, Mr Arvind Pathak, has championed net-zero cement production at the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) CEO Strategic Dialogue in Madrid, Spain.

He specifically charged African producers to lead the next phase of sustainable industrial growth by accelerating decarbonization while expanding cement production to meet the continent’s rising infrastructure needs.

“With Africa’s infrastructure demand continuing to rise, the sector must pursue growth while embracing innovative pathways to reduce carbon emissions,” Mr Pathak said.

“A key takeaway, especially for the African cement sector in the context of the evolving global economic and regulatory landscape, is the need to accelerate our decarbonization pathway through increased utilisation of alternative fuels, reduction of clinker content in cement and investment in innovative cement technologies suited to local realities,” he added.

Mr Pathak said the forum reinforced the opportunity for Africa’s cement industry to deliver sustainable growth while reducing carbon emissions, stressing that Dangote Cement remains committed to reducing its carbon emissions intensity by 20 per cent by 2030, using 2021 as the baseline year.

It was gathered that the two-day event allowed participants to discuss strategies to achieve net-zero emissions and drive sustainable growth across the cement and concrete value chain.

The meeting also highlighted the industry’s growing role in global climate action, particularly through the GCCA’s engagement at international climate platforms and its efforts to advance collaborative solutions for sustainable infrastructure development.

It also provided a platform for industry leaders to address critical priorities, including low-carbon construction, industry outlook, policy advocacy and financing mechanisms needed to accelerate the transition to net-zero.

Participants also reviewed GCCA’s global climate leadership efforts, particularly its engagement at COP30, where the industry is positioning itself as a key partner in climate solutions through initiatives such as the Cement Breakthrough and other multi-stakeholder collaborations.

Discussions underscored the growing importance of innovation, technology and strategic partnerships in supporting the cement and concrete sector’s net-zero ambitions while helping to meet global infrastructure needs.

Dangote Cement pledged to reduce its carbon emissions intensity by 20 per cent by 2030 from a 2021 baseline, as part of a broader strategy that includes increased use of alternative fuels, renewable energy investments, improved operational efficiency and clinker optimisation.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has remanded the former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr Danladi Umar, at the Kuje Custodial Centre after he was arraigned on corruption charges brought by the federal government.

Justice Peter Kekemeke on Thursday ordered Mr Umar’s remand following his arraignment on a four-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and corruption.

According to the prosecution, investigations revealed that the former CCT Chairman used his position to obtain financial benefits from contractors while in office.

The federal government alleged that in 2021, Mr Umar received N5.5 million through his wife’s bank account from a contractor engaged to repaint the CCT headquarters in Abuja.

The prosecutors further claimed that on January 25, 2024, he also received N6 million, again through his wife’s account, from a contractor responsible for the digitisation of the tribunal’s records.

In another allegation, the government accused Mr Umar of directing a contractor to pay N2.43 million as tuition fees for his daughter at Baze University, Abuja.

The alleged offences are said to contravene Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Mr Umar pleaded not guilty to all four charges. Following his plea, prosecuting counsel, Christopher Mshelia, asked the court to remand the defendant to a correctional facility and fix a date for trial.

The counsel of defence, however, urged the court to admit him to bail pending the hearing of the case.

The prosecution opposed the request, informing the court that it had only just been served with the bail application and required time to file its response.

Justice Kekemeke subsequently adjourned proceedings until July 15 for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kuje Custodial Centre pending the determination of the application.

Mr Umar served as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and presided over several high-profile cases during his tenure, including the 2019 trial of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Mr Umar was responsible for issuing the ex parte order that paved the way for Mr Onnoghen’s suspension, after which the late President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Justice Tanko Muhammad as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Although Mr Onnoghen later resigned from office, Mr Umar proceeded to convict him over allegations of false asset declaration and ordered the forfeiture of funds in several of the former CJN’s bank accounts while also removing him from key judicial positions.