The federal government on Thursday reaffirmed its determination to transform Nigeria’s solid minerals sector into a trillion-naira economic pillar, as the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG) inducted a new batch of professionals into the country’s mining and geoscience community.
Speaking at the induction and oath-taking ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Henry Dele Alake, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, said the Tinubu administration is driving a historic turnaround of the solid minerals sector – anchored on professionalism, transparency, and value addition.
“This government is committed to harnessing Nigeria’s mineral wealth to achieve the N1 trillion economy target envisioned by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. COMEG is not just a regulator – it is a strategic partner in this national transformation.”
Dr. Alake noted the ministry has recorded tangible results under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with mining revenues rising sharply from N12 billion to over N50 billion in 2025, while 867 new licenses were issued nationwide.
He added that new exploration projects will take off in 2026 following presidential approvals for expanded surveys across key mineral-rich corridors.
The minister outlined five reform pillars aligning with COMEG’s mandate: digital transformation, professional development, ethics and enforcement, formalization of artisanal mining, and international recognition.
He praised COMEG’s drive to digitalize its operations through the deployment of an Enterprise Content Management system, saying this aligns with the Ministry’s Electronic Mining Cadastre and Decision Support Platform – systems designed to ensure transparency, efficiency, and investor confidence.
“We are building a fully digital mining ecosystem, a sector where licenses are processed transparently, professionals are accountable, and investors can operate with confidence.”
He also commended COMEG’s mandatory geo-entrepreneurship training, describing it as a visionary step that will produce professionals capable of creating jobs, managing resources responsibly, and adding value across the mineral value chain.
“Nigeria does not need geologists who only identify rocks,” he added. “We need professionals who can turn resources into wealth.”
In his remarks, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of COMEG, Prof. Zacheus Opafunso, hailed Dr. Alake and the Permanent Secretary for providing the leadership that kept COMEG afloat after its removal from the federal budget in 2024.
He recalled that the minister’s personal intervention helped the Council negotiate down a major project cost from N72 million to N20 million, enabling the successful execution of current reforms and programs.
“Without the honourable minister’s guidance, COMEG would not be standing where it is today,”
Prof. Opafunso announced that this year’s induction also marked the launch of COMEG’s geo-entrepreneurship initiative, designed to equip young professionals with the business and innovation skills required in the modern mining industry.
“This is no longer a ceremony of formality, it is a call to action – to train, to innovate, and to create jobs for a new Nigeria.”
Delivering a goodwill message, the Director-General of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) Prof. Olusegun Ige charged the new inductees to uphold ethics, environmental responsibility, and professional excellence.
“This ceremony represents a covenant — to serve with integrity, advance science, and promote national prosperity, your expertise will shape the nation’s future in exploration, value addition, and sustainability,” he said.
He emphasized that the future of Nigeria’s mining sector depends on a new generation of professionals who combine technical knowledge with ethical discipline and innovation.
Established under Act No. 38 of 1990, COMEG regulates and controls the practice of mining, engineering, and geosciences in Nigeria.
It plays a central role in professional certification, ethics enforcement, and skills development – key foundations for the government’s push to industrialize the solid minerals value chain.
The ministry said its collaboration with COMEG would continue to deepen through data sharing, policy support, and funding for institutional reforms.
Folalumi Alaran
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