The federal government has pledged institutional support for Taraba State’s efforts to transform its mineral resources into a major source of investment, employment and revenue, with the state positioning itself as an emerging mining destination in Nigeria.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, made the commitment in Jalingo, during the Taraba State Solid Minerals Investment Roundtable 2026, organised to showcase the state’s mineral potential and attract investors into the sector.
Alake said the federal government through his ministry, would pursue every legitimate avenue to provide the institutional backing required to support Taraba’s mining ambitions.
He noted that the commitment is particularly important because Governor Agbu Kefas has demonstrated willingness to collaborate with the federal government in developing the state’s mineral resources.
The minister described Kefas as an example of a state authority whose development approach aligns with the transformative agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“What governor Kefas is doing in Taraba state is synonymous with President Tinubu’s transformative agenda,” Alake said, expressing confidence that Taraba could become a major mining destination if it properly developed its mineral resources.
He however, warned that merely having mineral deposits is not enough to attract serious investment, stressing the need for the state to convert mineral occurrences into commercially viable assets.
“A mineral occurrence is not the same thing as a mineral asset,” he said. Alake therefore urged the state government to develop a clear and bankable mineral investment pipeline instead of spreading its resources across numerous projects without taking any to completion.
He advised the state to identify a few strategic projects, concentrate resources on them and ensure that at least one reaches production level, saying such an achievement would significantly improve investors’ confidence in the state.
“Devote your energy to a few mineral projects. Only that project will change the perception of investors. Take one project and finish it to production level,” he said.
The minister stressed that mining development cannot be achieved through government policy statements alone, noting that effective cooperation among the federal government, state authorities, regulatory agencies, investors and host communities was essential.
He also called on mining investors to explore partnership opportunities in Taraba State, urging them to bring capital, technology, technical expertise and international experience required to transform the state’s mineral potential into productive investments.
According to him, transparency and clearly defined institutional responsibilities would be crucial to attracting credible investors, as investors needed certainty about government processes, regulations and the responsibilities of agencies involved in the sector.
Alake also linked the development of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector to the broader economic reforms of the Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy.
He described the subsidy removal as a difficult but transformative decision, saying President Tinubu “took the bullet” for Nigerians by addressing what he described as leakages and loopholes in the previous system.
The minister maintained that the federal government’s reforms were aimed at laying the foundation for a more productive economy in which the country’s natural resources could contribute more significantly to job creation, investment and revenue generation.
Responding, Governor Kefas reaffirmed that solid minerals development remains one of the priorities of his administration, stressing that Taraba State is richly endowed with mineral resources capable of transforming the state’s economy.
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Kefas said his administration is determined to move the state away from irregular and informal mining towards a properly regulated and licensed mining industry.
“Our direction is that we want to move from irregular mining to licensed mining. We want mining that protects our environment,” the governor said.
He said the state government would provide an enabling environment for investors, including security and other necessary support, while ensuring that mining activities were carried out responsibly.
The governor also stressed the importance of protecting the environment and ensuring that host communities benefit from mining activities, rather than allowing mineral exploitation to result in environmental degradation and limited local economic benefits.
