Reps Push for Solid Minerals Sector Reform, Unveil Key Bills at Public Hearing

The House of Representatives Thursday moved to reposition Nigeria’s solid minerals sector with the unveiling of a series of reform oriented bills at a public hearing held at the National Assembly, Abuja.

Declaring the session open, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas said the initiative marked a decisive step towards diversifying Nigeria’s economy and reducing over-dependence on oil

He stressed that the development of the solid minerals sector was no longer optional but an urgent imperative for national growth.

“This public hearing is not merely a procedural step; it is a fundamental pillar of our democratic process,” the Speaker said. “The bills before us today address legal frameworks, institutional reforms, funding mechanisms, and human capital development—all critical to unlocking the full potential of this sector.”

The bills under consideration include the repeal of the Nigerian Coal Corporation Act to establish the Nigeria Coal Development Commission, the creation of the Lithium Development Commission to tap into the global clean energy market and the establishment of the Nigerian Mining Development Bank to provide funding for indigenous miners

Also on the table are bills to create Institutes of Mining and Geosciences in six states of Nasarawa, Taraba, Ekiti, Cross River, Zamfara, and Abia as well as legislation to establish the Nigerian Solid Mineral Communities Development Commission

The latter, Abbas said, was aimed at ensuring host communities derive tangible benefits from mining activities

Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Hon. Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi echoed the Speaker’s remarks, describing the sector as a potential “pillar of Nigeria’s economic transformation” that has remained underutilized for decades.

“The bills before us are designed to modernize obsolete legal instruments, create new institutions such as the Lithium Development Commission and the Mining Development Bank, and guarantee sustainable funding through Public-Private Partnerships,” Gbefwi said.

He added that the hearing was structured to allow inputs from a wide range of stakeholders including government agencies, industry players, community leaders, academia and civil society

“The laws we shape here will not only determine how Nigeria harnesses her mineral wealth but also how we safeguard the interests of future generations,” the committee chairman said

Stakeholders are expected to make submissions over the coming days, after which the House Committee will harmonize recommendations before presenting final drafts to the plenary

With global demand for critical minerals such as lithium rising, lawmakers said Nigeria had an opportunity to strengthen its position in the clean energy value chain, create jobs, and attract sustainable investment.