The Minister of Solid Minerals , Mr Dele Alake says his appointment to the Ministry of Solid Minerals by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is deliberate to instigate a clear turn around of the norm in that sector for the overall benefit of the country.
Alake, the immediate past Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Special Duties,Communications and Strategy said this after taking the oath of office on Monday.
He said though many were surprised by his designation, yet it was proper as only someone who earns the president’s trust could be so appointed to the sector given its great potentiality to drive in the needed “massive foreign investment” for the benefit of Nigerians.
Addressing the press ,he said ” My portfolio is deliberate .Those who have analytical mind and who are following global trends in economic development knows that Hydro Carbons are going down, Oil, Petroleum is going down globally.In the economic sector.people are moving away from those areas , now you have electric cars, alternative fuels, which means our over reliance on oil is going to be detrimental to the growth of the Nigerian economy moving forward. So, what’s the next bet? It is Solid Minerals. That’s the next Oil of Nigeria.With this critical sector in mind,who will the president put there? The person he trusts most.The person who has a passion in his own estimation who has a sense of responsibility, knowledge, the fusion the courage to drive that sector and harness those critical resources for the benefit of Nigerians.
Speaking further, Alake said his appointment would witness a departure from the norms saying” everyone knows what’s been happening in that solid mineral sector of the economy is being frittered away. Nigeria has been short-changed, Nigeria has been receiving the shorter end of the stick”
“We are going to harness those resources, for the benefit of our people, for the benefit of Nigeria and in the collective interest of all.and we are going to be involving the private sector, and there would be a massive foreign direct investment into that sector” He said.
