The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Henry Alake, has pledged the Federal Government’s institutional support for Taraba State’s efforts to attract investment into its solid minerals sector and become a major mining destination in Nigeria.

Alake gave the assurance on Saturday in Jalingo at the Taraba State Solid Minerals Investment Roundtable 2026, where government officials, mining investors and other stakeholders gathered to explore opportunities in the state’s mineral resources sector.

The minister said the federal government, through his ministry, would explore every legitimate avenue to provide the necessary institutional backing for the state, noting that the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas had demonstrated strong commitment to collaboration with the Federal Government in developing the sector.

He described Kefas as an example of a state governor whose development approach aligns with the transformative agenda of President Bola Tinubu, particularly in the area of economic reforms and efforts to unlock Nigeria’s natural resources for sustainable development.

“What Governor Kefas is doing in Taraba state is synonymous with President Tinubu’s transformative agenda,” Alake said, stressing that the state had the potential to emerge as a major destination for mining investment if it properly developed its mineral assets.

According to him, the mere existence of mineral deposits does not automatically translate into economic wealth, as a “mineral occurrence is not the same thing as a mineral asset.”

He therefore urged the Taraba state Government to develop a clear and bankable mineral investment pipeline rather than spreading its resources across numerous projects without taking any to completion.

Alake advised the state to identify a few strategic mineral projects, devote adequate resources to them and ensure that at least one project reaches production level, saying such achievement would significantly change investors’ perception of Taraba.

“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 advised.

The minister further stressed that transparency and clarity of responsibility among institutions involved in mining development were essential to attracting credible investors. He said investors would be more willing to commit their resources when government processes, responsibilities and regulatory frameworks were clear.

Alake also called on investors and mining companies to explore partnership opportunities in Taraba State, urging them to bring their technical expertise, capital and experience to support the development of the state’s mineral resources.

He maintained that mining development could not be achieved through policy statements alone, noting that effective cooperation among the federal government, state governments, regulatory agencies, host communities and private-sector operators was required to translate mineral potential into tangible economic benefits.

The minister also defended the economic reforms of the Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, describing the decision as a difficult but necessary step towards addressing leakages and loopholes in the Nigerian economy.

He said those who opposed the reforms were largely individuals and interests that had benefited from the inefficiencies and leakages associated with the previous system.

Alake said the federal government was committed to reforms capable of transforming Nigeria’s economy and creating an environment where the country’s natural resources could contribute more significantly to national development.

Earlier, governor Kefas said the development of solid minerals remained one of the priorities of his administration, stressing that Taraba was richly endowed with mineral resources capable of contributing substantially to the state’s economic growth.

Kefas said his administration was determined to move the state from what he described as irregular or informal mining towards a more organised and licensed mining regime.

“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 by strengthening security, facilitating access to relevant government support and creating conditions that would encourage responsible mining activities.

The governor assured prospective investors that his administration would provide the necessary support to make investment in the state’s mining sector attractive, while ensuring that mining activities were conducted in a manner that protects the environment and benefits host communities.

He called on investors and other stakeholders to take advantage of Taraba’s vast mineral potential, assuring them of the state government’s commitment to working with the Federal Government to develop the sector and transform mineral resources into sustainable economic opportunities.