Nigeria urges investors to boost mining sector
Nigeria’s solid minerals minister urged investors to expand their involvement in the sector following reforms aimed at boosting returns and security. Dele Alake addressed the China Mining Conference in Tianjin on Friday, highlighting initiatives such as Mining Marshals and satellite monitoring systems that protect legitimate operators while reducing illegal extraction. He pointed to digital platforms such as the Electronic Mining Cadastre and the Nigerian Mineral Resources Decision System as tools that simplify international business transactions.
Chinese firms have poured 1.3 billion dollars into lithium processing since September 2023, Alake said, creating jobs and reducing oil dependence. Companies like Canmax Technology and Jiuling Lithium signed agreements after President Bola Tinubu visited China in September 2024. The investments brought infrastructure improvements and technical knowledge transfer, strengthening local workforce capabilities.
Alake chairs the Africa Minerals Strategy Group and has pledged stronger cooperation across the continent to improve exploration standards. He wants the regional Centers of Excellence expanded alongside the Solid Minerals Development Fund to reduce investment risks. The minister invited partners to examine opportunities in lithium, gold, lead-zinc, barite and rare earth materials under favorable terms.
Nigeria Geological Survey Agency Director Olusegun Ige discussed the National Mineral Resources Data System and aeromagnetic surveys that guide exploration decisions. He acknowledged that additional investment is needed to expand coverage and convert geological data into proven reserves that support clean energy transitions.
