Abuja: President Bola Tinubu has highlighted the rapid growth of coal mining in Nigeria, marking it as one of the country's fastest-growing sectors. According to him, the sector witnessed a remarkable recovery from a 22 percent decline in the first quarter to a 57.5 percent growth in the second quarter, underscoring its burgeoning significance in Nigeria's economy.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, President Tinubu made these remarks during his national broadcast commemorating Nigeria's 65th independence anniversary. He emphasized the pivotal role of the solid mineral sector in the nation's economy, advocating for value-added production of minerals extracted from Nigerian soil. The president reflected on the economic challenges faced by his administration, attributing them to decades of fiscal policy distortions and misalignments that had stunted real growth. Yet, he expressed a firm commitment to reform and transformation.
President Tinubu elaborated on the strategic choices his administration made, highlighting a determined shift away from the status quo towards a path of reform. He stated, "As a new administration, we faced a simple choice: continue business as usual and watch our nation drift, or embark on a courageous, fundamental reform path. We chose the path of reform. We chose the path of tomorrow over the comfort of today. Less than three years later, the seeds of those difficult but necessary decisions are bearing fruit."
Under Tinubu's leadership, Nigeria's economy has shown promising signs of growth, with the second quarter of 2025 witnessing a 4.23 percent growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the fastest pace in four years, surpassing the 3.4 percent projection by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Moreover, inflation has declined to 20.12 percent in August 2025, the lowest level in three years.
The president also highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance national security, which he believes are crucial for sustaining economic growth and performance. He credited security agencies for their tireless work and significant sacrifices in securing Nigeria and making strides in combating terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that in 2024, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, established the Mining Marshals, a security unit derived from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps. This initiative aims to secure mining sites across the nation in response to a surge in illegal mining activities. During the one-year anniversary of this security unit in March, the minister noted the arrest of 327 suspects for illegal mining, with 143 prosecuted and 98 mining sites reclaimed.