Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr
Dele Alake, has called on investors to scale up their participation in the
country’s solid minerals sector, citing ongoing reforms designed to guarantee
security, transparency, and higher returns.
Speaking at the China Mining Conference in Tianjin
on the theme “Connect and Collaborate, Co-Build and Co-Share,” Alake
highlighted key security and technological upgrades such as the Mining
Marshals, satellite mines monitoring project, and the Electronic
Mining Cadastre (EMC+). He said these initiatives were part of efforts to
protect licensed miners, curb illegal mining, and ease business processes.
The minister revealed that Chinese firms have
invested over $1.3 billion in lithium processing since September 2023,
naming companies like Canmax Technology, Jiuling Lithium, Avatar New Energy
Nigeria Company, and Asba as major contributors. He added that Memoranda of
Understanding signed during President Bola Tinubu’s 2024 visit to China have
spurred new commitments in the sector.
Alake, who also chairs the Africa Minerals Strategy
Group (AMSG), reaffirmed Nigeria’s resolve to promote regional
collaboration in mineral exploration and reporting standards. He emphasized
plans to expand the Centres of Excellence in Geosciences and Mining Skills,
as well as boost funding through the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF)
and SMDF-AFC Facility to support early-stage exploration.
He invited investors to explore Nigeria’s vast
potential in lithium, gold, lead-zinc, barite, and rare earth elements,
assuring them of a conducive business environment, improved security, and
incentives for mutual growth.
Representing Nigeria in a technical session, Professor
Olusegun Omoniyi Ige, Director General of the Nigeria Geological Survey
Agency, showcased the National Mineral Resources Data System (NMRDS)
and the country’s extensive geochemical datasets, describing them as crucial
tools for informed exploration.
Other speakers included Mr Xu Xueyi (China
Geological Survey), H.E. Mohamed Ahmed Taha (Sudan’s Minister of
Minerals), Ms Phumzile Mgcina (South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Mineral
and Petroleum Resources), and Mr Joseph Lebbie (Director General of
Geological Exploration, Sierra Leone).
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