Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, says reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu are responsible for the rapid growth being recorded in the country’s solid minerals sector.
Alake noted that the reforms have boosted the sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), attracted increased foreign direct investment, and strengthened Nigeria’s profile as a preferred destination for mining investment.
Speaking through the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Obadiah Nkom, at the just-concluded Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Conference in Toronto, Canada, the minister said Nigeria was open to partnerships with credible investors committed to responsible and sustainable mining.
Addressing participants at the 27th Annual African Mining Breakfast, a high-level forum that brings together African ministers, industry leaders and global investors, Alake stressed the need for stronger collaboration among African countries to unlock the continent’s vast mineral potential.
The ministry’s delegation also participated in the International Mines Ministers Summit, attended by representatives from countries including France, Chile, Saudi Arabia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Canada, Egypt and Australia, alongside global organisations such as the World Economic Forum.
Alake reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting value addition in the mining sector, explaining that Nigeria is shifting from exporting raw minerals to encouraging local processing in order to ensure greater economic benefits for citizens.
He also emphasised the importance of cross-border integration within Africa’s mining industry, noting that coordinated policies and structured agreements would unlock greater opportunities for trade, investment and shared infrastructure.
“Integration does not fail because Africa lacks frameworks. It fails because projects stall between borders,” the minister said, explaining that viable mining projects are often constrained by infrastructure gaps such as rail, power and processing facilities located across national boundaries.
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He called on development finance institutions and strategic investors to move beyond isolated local investments and support regional infrastructure systems that can link mining projects across borders.
“Nigeria is ready to anchor such corridors. We have the data, the reforms and the political backing. What we need now is capital structured for integration,” he added.
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On the sidelines of the conference, the Nigerian delegation held talks with the Chairperson of the Canada–Africa Chamber of Business, Ms Paula Caldwell, on expanding Canada–Nigeria business engagement in the mining sector.
The meeting, facilitated by the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, explored opportunities for stronger commercial and investment partnerships between Canadian companies and Nigeria’s solid minerals industry.
Discussions also focused on the upcoming African Partnership Business Conference scheduled for May, which aims to connect Canadian companies with African investment opportunities and government stakeholders.
The four-day conference featured engagements with international mining executives, development partners and prospective investors, highlighting Nigeria’s mineral resources and ongoing reforms aimed at improving transparency, strengthening geological data, formalising artisanal mining, and creating a more competitive investment environment.