Director-General of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs Nonye Ayeni has said that the country’s deposits of solid minerals are capable of changing her future economic outlook.
The NEPC DG said this at a one-day workshop on developing the potentials of solid minerals for export competitiveness, organised by the NEPC in Owerri, on Wednesday.
Ayeni, represented by NEPC’s Imo Coordinator, Mr Anthony Ajuruchi said that as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda, the solid minerals’ sector’s contribution to export earnings needs to impact more positively to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
She added that the NEPC was working hard to address the sector’s challenges in four core areas of trade regulations and compliance; standards, certifications and quality control; export documentation and finance for capital intensive exploration activities.
“ At NEPC, we are fully committed to supporting Nigerian exporters by providing the necessary tools, training and resources to help you navigate this landscape in collaboration with key stakeholders and international partners.
“ Nigeria’s economic future depends on our ability to diversify, and solid minerals export is a critical component of that strategy.
“ This is why at the 16th National Council on Commerce, Trade and Investment held in May 2025, the inclusion of solid minerals as part of the One-State-One-Product was approved”, she said.
Speaking, the Chairman, Miners Association of Nigeria, Imo chapter, Chief Ugochukwu Onyenwenwa said that although Imo is endowed with mineral deposits, relevant government agencies were not properly collaborating with miners in the state.
He added that the lack of a mining policy by the Imo Government was undermining the activities of private miners, and called for the creation of a mining development agency specifically overseeing the activities of miners.
Also speaking, Imo Dredgers and Escavators Association, Mr Peter Itabochi, called for proper oversight of mining operations by relevant government agencies to reduce the activities of illegal miners.
The Permanent Secretary, Imo Ministry of Industry, Mines and Minerals, Mrs Angela Obilor-Chidi, listed the sector’s challenges to include inadequate geological data, informal mining activities, poor infrastructure, and poor energy supply.
She listed major solid minerals in Imo to include bentonite, limestone, gypsum, phosphate, clays and glass sand, lead, zinc, marcasite, kaolin, lignite and industrial salt.
Also, Imo Coordinator of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Mr David Elemuo called on the relevant state government ministry to collaborate with relevant federal agencies for real geographical mapping of the state.
The NEPC’s solid minerals directed, represented by Mr Toju Mac-Jaja said that the global demand for zinc stands at 14 million metric tons per year and that of lead at 13.72 million metric tons, hence the need for stakeholder coordination, export facilitation and market development.
He enjoined miners to identify with the NEPC by updating their membership registration so that they can access the resultant benefits.