Nigeria Invites Global Investors To Explore Its Mining Potential

By: Hauwa Gidado, Abuja

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The Nigerian government has extended an invitation to foreign and local investors to explore the country’s vast mineral resources, promising a mutually beneficial partnership.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, made the call in Abuja, during a press conference organized by the Ministry, ahead of the 9th Edition of Mining Week event scheduled to take place from 18-20 November 2024.

Foreign investment

The Minister said, “As we aim to present Nigeria as a destination where investments are well-informed and reliable, we invite the world to engage in a mutually beneficial partnership that elevates our mining landscape to international standards”.

He said the Nigerian government is committed to Value addition of its minerals.

“Our commitment to value addition ensures that Nigerian resources don’t leave our shores in their raw form, Processing and refining facilities within Nigeria create local employment, deepen industrial capacity, and add layers of economic value that extend well beyond the mining sector itself.” Dr. Alake said.

Speaking further the Minister said, “Our country is blessed with a range of minerals, but to realize their full potential, we must move beyond extraction, We are focused on establishing systems and structures that allow Nigerians to benefit directly from our resources. Through local value addition, processing, and beneficiation, our aim is to transform Nigeria‘s mineral wealth into industrial and economic power, generating jobs and supporting local businesses in ways that ripple through our economy”.

Explaining further on the conference he said “This year’s Nigeria Mining Week offers a unique opportunity to bring together investors, experts, and government leaders from around the world, fostering partnerships that will drive innovation, financing, and policy evolution.

“The 9 Edition of Nigeria Mining Week presents a remarkably comprehensive program, rich with insightful sessions and dynamic discussions. It spans various critical themes from Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reforms, to innovative financing for mining development, to exploring Nigeria’s potential into global mining landscape”. The Minister explained.

In his remarks, President Miners Association of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Ayanleke, further highlights the significance of the conference,
“the Nigeria Mining Week has stamped its feet on the sand of the Nigerian mining sector as the premium platform for the assessment of industrial progress, setting future agenda and showcasing the emerging technologies and methodologies, through the gathering of the widest arrays of international players of latest solution providers expertise to unlock the potentials of our mineral endowments for wealth creation”. Mr. Ayanleke noted.

The Representative of PriceWaterHouseCoopers (PWC) in Nigeria, Mr. Habeeb Jaiyeola, stated the economic Potentials attached to the conference.

“The Mining sector remains one of the key sectors that would contribute significantly to the diversification agenda of the current administration and the need to move Nigeria into a non-oil dependent economy. We recognise the tremendous efforts being made by the Nigerian Government towards the development of the Nigerian Mining Sector and are excited for the prospects and opportunities that the sector provides”. Mr. Habeeb said

 

Olusola Akintonde

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