The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, called on northern elites to endorse President Bola Tinubu’s initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda during an event yesterday. This plea came as he accepted the ‘Most Impactful Minister’ award from the Arewa Think Tank, as noted in a statement by his Media Special Assistant, Segun Tomori. Alake credited his ministerial successes to the collaborative efforts facilitated by the President.
He emphasized that the Tinubu administration has brought order to the solid minerals sector, establishing the Mining Marshals through teamwork among the Ministries of Interior and Defence, as well as successfully promoting the sector internationally with the help of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Investment—demonstrating Tinubu’s governance approach.
However, he cautioned that designating a single minister as the most impactful doesn’t encapsulate the broader achievements, which stem from inter-ministerial collaboration.
During his speech, he reminisced about President Tinubu’s notable accomplishments as both a Senator in the Third Republic and as Lagos State Governor from 1999 to 2007. Alake highlighted Tinubu’s visionary leadership and financial acumen, which transformed Lagos’ economy, enabling wealth generation for risk-takers while also supporting the less fortunate.
He pointed out that Tinubu’s 25-year economic forecast for Lagos has flourished, establishing a new economic model. He expressed confidence that with effective leadership, Nigeria is also poised for improvement.
Alake acknowledged the difficulties Nigerians face due to the current government’s policies, framing these challenges as necessary sacrifices for future generations, mirroring the sacrifices made by citizens of other countries.
The Minister reiterated that the Tinubu administration aims to empower citizens for wealth creation and to address developmental hurdles. He noted efforts to combat the profiteering from fuel subsidies, where individuals exploited cheap fuel intended for the public.
With the margin now unprofitable for smugglers, he described the resurgence of petroleum production at the Port Harcourt Refinery as a key step toward reducing costs, reflecting the administration’s commitment to enhancing the welfare of ordinary citizens.
Earlier in the event, Chairman Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (Retd) urged the government to prioritize agriculture amidst climate change and security concerns. Kaduna State Governor Sen. Sani Uba and other governors praised the Arewa Think Tank for its steadfastness and shared the progress made in agriculture within their state, attributing improvements in farmers’ living standards to their policies.
In a significant moment, Chief Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media & Public Communications, echoed the achievements of the Tinubu administration in Hausa, emphasizing the need for collective support from all Nigerians for its success.
