By Our Reporter
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has urged global investors to scale up their investments in the nation’s mining sector, citing ongoing reforms, improved security, and a business-friendly environment that guarantee high returns.
Speaking on the theme “Connect and Collaborate, Co-Build and Co-Share” at the China Mining Conference in Tianjin, Dr. Alake highlighted key policy and technological innovations transforming Nigeria’s solid minerals industry.
According to him, the establishment of Mining Marshals to secure mining sites, alongside the deployment of satellite monitoring technology, has curbed illegal mining and enhanced investor confidence.
The minister also pointed to the launch of several digital tools — including the Electronic Mining Cadastre (EMC+), the Nigerian Mineral Resources Decision System (NMRDS), and the Centre of Excellence — as measures that have simplified licensing and improved transparency.
Dr. Alake revealed that since September 2023, Chinese companies such as Canmax Technology, Jiuling Lithium, Avatar New Energy Nigeria Company, and Asba have invested over $1.3 billion in lithium processing in Nigeria. He attributed this inflow to policy consistency and bilateral agreements signed during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to China in September 2024.
“These investments are driving Nigeria’s economic diversification, reducing dependence on oil, and fostering technology transfer and local skill development,” he said.
As chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), Dr. Alake reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening continental cooperation in mineral exploration and standardization. He emphasized the need for Africa to develop shared systems of governance and technical capacity to harness its vast mineral potential.
He further disclosed plans to expand the Regional Centres of Excellence in Geosciences and Mining Skills and to enhance the role of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) and the SMDF-AFC Facility in supporting early-stage exploration and de-risking investments.
“We invite investors, development partners, and technical institutions to explore Nigeria’s opportunities in minerals such as lithium, gold, lead-zinc, barite, and rare earth elements,” Alake said. “Our government provides a secure investment climate, improved security of tenure, and incentives that ensure mutual benefit.”
Representing Nigeria at the technical session on “Mining in Africa and Policy”, Director-General of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, Professor Olusegun Omoniyi Ige, showcased the National Mineral Resources Data System (NMRDS) and Nigeria’s extensive aeromagnetic and geochemical datasets. He noted that while these have significantly improved geological understanding, more investment is needed to expand exploration and convert data into proven mineral resources.
The session also featured contributions from Mr. Xu Xueyi, Deputy Director-General of the 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.