By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria has announced the discovery of new deposits of valuable copper, lithium, and rare earth minerals, boosting efforts to further diversify the country’s economy away from oil.

The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development received a new report identifying Nigeria’s abundant lithium, copper and bauxite deposits as strategic resources capable of accelerating the country’s transition to clean energy and supporting domestic industrialisation.

The report, presented on Monday in Abuja by the Council for Critical Minerals Development in the Global South, outlines how Nigeria can leverage its mineral wealth to meet growing demand for renewable energy technologies while retaining more value within the country.

According to a statement by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Lara Owoeye-Wise, the report was formally handed over to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, at the State House Conference Centre.

The report comes days after the Minister, Mr Dele Alake, announced the discovery of what the government described as a world-class polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State containing deposits of platinum group metals, gold, nickel, copper, lithium and rare earth elements.

The minister said the discovery, verified by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), ranks among the most significant developments in Nigeria’s mining sector in recent years and strengthens the country’s critical minerals potential.

The latest report examines Nigeria’s projected demand for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, battery storage technologies and electric vehicles alongside current mineral production and trade patterns.

It concludes that the country’s deposits of lithium, copper and bauxite closely match the minerals required to support the transition to cleaner energy sources.

According to the statement, the report also identifies existing gaps in Nigeria’s mineral value chain and proposes policy measures to maximise the economic benefits of the country’s natural resources.

Receiving the report, Mr Alake said it provides practical policy guidance for Nigeria’s efforts to transform its mineral resources into a foundation for green industrial development.

“By mapping domestic demand, supply and trade patterns, this report provides mineral-specific policy pathways to leverage Nigeria’s resources for our own green industrialisation,” he said.

He added that the report aligns with the ministry’s broader objective of ensuring that Nigeria moves beyond exporting raw minerals to developing local industries that create jobs and add value to the economy.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has revealed that the implementation of capital projects across the country is significantly higher than figures often reported in the public domain.

It promised to launch a more transparent reporting system that will enable Nigerians to track budget performance in real time.

The government also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had directed the harmonisation of federal projects to improve transparency, coordination and public accountability.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, stated this during a panel session titled Reforms in Focus: The Milestones, the Challenges, the Prospects, at the fifth Nigeria Employers’ Summit in Abuja.

The minister admitted that the government could do better in budget implementation but maintained that the narrative around poor execution of capital projects did not fully reflect reality.

“On public finance and budget implementation, especially capital projects, I would agree that we can do much better with our budget, including what we budget for and how we implement it.

“But I can also tell you that budget implementation is far better than what you see and what you hear. Take capital budget implementation, for example. Some of it is not properly reported.

“You see, some of the execution of capital projects is done at the agency level. Some of them are landmark and legacy projects, and because of the nature of these projects, the reporting does not come in immediately.”

According to him, the delay in reporting has created a gap between actual project implementation and public perception. He said the Ministry of Finance was already working on a system that would provide a clearer and more transparent picture of government spending and project execution.

“Part of the work we are doing at the Ministry of Finance is to provide this reporting in a way that is clear and transparent. Very soon, you will find that the information will be readily available simply by going to the Ministry of Finance website.

“You will see that the percentage of implementation of capital projects is much higher than what you read in the newspapers,” he stated.

Mr Oyedele further disclosed that the government was working with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to reform project implementation and consolidate information on federal projects on one platform.

“We are also working with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on the reforms that we need for projects. Mr President has already given the direction that we should harmonise the projects. Having just one platform where you can find everything at once is a lot better for transparency and accountability,” he said.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The Governor of Kwara State, Mr AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has removed his Deputy Chief of Staff and the Principal Private Secretary.

In a statement on Monday by his Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Mr Mashood AbdulRafiu Agboola, it was disclosed that the Governor also removed all Special Advisers, Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, and Special Assistants in the “minor cabinet shake-up.

It was explained that the action was to extend opportunities to more party members and inject fresh energy into the administration.

Mr AbdulRazaq directed them to hand over all government properties in their custody to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

He thanked the affected appointees for selfless service to the state and his administration, wishing them well in their future endeavours.

“His Excellency expresses his gratitude to all the appointees for their priceless service to the state. He wishes them the best in their future endeavours,” the statement noted.