The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has hailed African Natural Resources and Mines Limited (ANRML) as a key partner in the Nigerian government’s efforts to enhance local value addition within the mining sector.
Alake made the remarks during the commissioning of Nigeria’s first ultra-modern mineral analysis laboratory in Sabon-Wuse, Niger State, on Thursday.
The state-of-the-art laboratory, a major milestone for Nigeria’s mining industry, is expected to play a crucial role in the sector’s growth.
According to Alake, the facility aligns with the core objectives of his seven-point agenda aimed at repositioning the mining sector. One of the key priorities of the agenda is to promote local value addition, and the new laboratory is seen as a vital step in reducing Nigeria’s dependence on foreign testing facilities for mineral analysis.
“You are not only aligning with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda but also contributing to our ministry’s seven-point agenda, with local value addition being a critical component,” Alake said during the commissioning.
“This internationally certified lab will significantly benefit the sector, as it will handle mineral samples that were previously sent abroad for testing, positioning Nigeria as a key player in global mineral analysis.”
The laboratory, which has received international certification, will allow Nigeria to test mineral samples domestically, significantly improving the efficiency and accuracy of mineral analysis while saving costs associated with sending samples overseas. The move is expected to bolster the country’s standing in the global mining sector.
Commending ANRML’s initiative, the Minister encouraged the company, which also operates an iron ore mining and processing plant, to continue its investments in the Nigerian mining landscape. He pledged the support of the Federal Government for investments that would generate employment for the country’s youth.
ANRML’s Group Managing Director, Alok Gupta, expressed gratitude for the commissioning of the facility and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s mining sector. “The world-class laboratory commissioned today will be used to analyse solid mineral samples. Recognising the need for such a facility in Nigeria, we decided to establish this laboratory using the latest technology,” Gupta said.
He further noted that ANRML is the only company in Nigeria certified with the prestigious ISO 7025 accreditation from the Canadian Association of Laboratory Abbreviations and other internationally recognised testing laboratory bodies.
The laboratory is equipped with cutting-edge WDXRF machines and provides a comprehensive range of geochemical services tailored to meet the needs of the exploration and mining industries.
With this development, Nigeria takes a significant step towards advancing its mining sector and enhancing its competitiveness on the global stage.
