The Federal Government has teamed up with the Africa Finance Corporation to gather data and reduce investment risks in the mining sector. This partnership aims to revitalize and improve the solid minerals industry in the country. The Minister for Solid Minerals, Dr Oladele Alake, revealed this during a visit by the President/CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation, Mr Samaila Zubairu. Building on the existing collaboration between the AFC and the Solid Minerals Development Fund, Dr Alake stated that the Ministry will leverage this partnership to gather the necessary data to advance the $700bn value under the big data strategy. The Minister emphasized the importance of accurate data gathering, stating that efforts to make Nigeria a hub for solid minerals development will be in vain without improved data. He expressed the Ministry’s commitment to investing in comprehensive and precise data generation to enable informed decision-making by investors. During the visit, the Minister also highlighted initiatives by the SMDF and the AFC to drive the development of the mineral sector. These initiatives align with the President’s agenda for foreign direct investment, job creation, and increased fiscal revenues. The agreement is a significant step towards establishing processing centers that focus on value-added products.