The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Henry Dele Alake, has credited the ongoing growth in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector to the reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, the sector has recorded increased contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, rising foreign direct investment, and growing international recognition of Nigeria as a promising mining destination.
Alake made the remarks through the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Obadiah Nkom, during the recently concluded Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Conference in Toronto, Canada.
Speaking at the 27th Annual African Mining Breakfast, a forum attended by African ministers, industry stakeholders and global investors, the minister stressed the need for stronger collaboration among African countries to fully harness the continent’s mineral resources.
He noted that many mining projects across Africa fail not because of the absence of frameworks but due to weak cross-border coordination.
Alake explained that in some cases a mine may be located in one country while essential infrastructure such as rail lines, power supply or processing facilities are situated in neighbouring countries, with no institution responsible for connecting them.
He therefore urged development finance institutions and strategic investors to go beyond financing isolated national projects and instead support regional infrastructure that links mining operations across borders.
The minister also assured that Nigeria is ready to lead such initiatives, stating that the country already has the necessary data, reforms and political backing needed to attract large-scale investment.
Members of the Nigerian delegation also attended the International Mines Ministers Summit where they held discussions with representatives from countries including France, Chile, Saudi Arabia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Canada, Egypt and Australia, as well as global organisations such as the World Economic Forum.
On the sidelines of the conference, the delegation met with Paula Caldwell, Chairperson of the Canada–Africa Chamber of Business, in a meeting facilitated by the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio.
Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Canada and Nigeria in the mining sector ahead of the African Partnership Business Conference scheduled for May. The event is expected to attract Canadian firms seeking to expand operations across Africa, including in Nigeria.
Alake emphasised that the Federal Government is committed to promoting value addition in the mining sector by encouraging local processing of minerals rather than exporting raw materials.
He added that improved cross-border cooperation among African countries would help maximise trade, investment and shared infrastructure within the continent’s mining industry.
