The Commonwealth Secretariat and Federal Government of Nigeria Discuss Potential for Deep-Sea Mining Collaboration
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat, has entered into discussions with the aim of harnessing Nigeria’s deep-sea mining potential within its coastal waters.
Dr. Oladele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, spearheaded the Nigerian delegation in a proactive effort to elevate the solid minerals sector on the global stage. During the forum, Alake emphasized President Bola Tinubu’s recognition of the solid minerals sector as a crucial component of Nigeria’s current economic diversification efforts. This recognition led to the formulation of a seven-point agenda by the ministry, which includes the establishment of a solid minerals company, extensive data collection on mineral reserves to mitigate investment risks, enhanced security measures to protect mines, and the promotion of socio-economic development in mining communities through effective community development agreements.
Alake called upon the Commonwealth, with its wealth of expertise, to support the Tinubu administration’s initiatives. Considering Nigeria’s former status as a British colony and current membership in the 54-member Commonwealth, the potential for collaboration is significant.
In response, Paul Kautoke, the senior director of the trade, oceans, and natural resources department, commended the Nigerian delegation for their visit. Kautoke highlighted Nigeria’s coastal advantage and proposed the exploration of lucrative deep-sea minerals such as copper, cobalt, nickel, gold, and rare earth elements. He also noted the progress made by several Commonwealth countries in the Pacific region in the deep-sea mining subsector, expressing the Commonwealth’s willingness to assist in crafting a tailored policy for Nigeria.
Insights from director of natural resources, Victor Kitange; Trade and investment adviser, Opeyemi Abebe; Economic adviser, Daniel Wilder; and ocean governance adviser, Allison Swaddling, provided additional perspectives. They underscored the advancements in deep-sea mining and raised concerns about African countries lagging behind in this industry. Swaddling highlighted online training programmes available through the department, with Abebe offering to provide similar assistance to Nigeria based on previous experience with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC).
In response, Alake acknowledged the new perspective brought by the discussion on deep sea mining, committing to collaborating with other ministries to thoroughly examine this dimension. The goal is to develop a comprehensive country proposal for further consideration.
The discussions between Nigeria’s Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Commonwealth Secretariat represent a pivotal step towards unlocking the potential of deep-sea mining within Nigeria’s coastal waters. The proactive engagement and exchange of insights between the two parties demonstrate a shared commitment to capitalising on Nigeria’s natural resources for sustainable economic development.
