Nigeria and United States Create Task Force for Mining Sector Partnership
Nigeria and the United States have solidified plans for a partnership focused on the development of Nigeria’s mining sector. This noteworthy collaboration includes the establishment of a working group to identify key areas where the two countries can work together.
The foundation for this partnership was laid during a recent meeting in Abuja, where the United States Deputy Chief of Mission, David Greene, and Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, discussed potential areas of cooperation. Amos Hochstein, the United States government’s senior advisor on energy and infrastructure, also played a pivotal role in advancing this initiative.
Hochstein emphasized the long-standing special relationship between the United States and Nigeria, expressing the US government’s interest in supporting Nigeria’s mining industry. He specifically highlighted areas such as infrastructural development, technical assistance for mining operations, and industry investment as potential areas for collaboration.
In response, Minister Alake welcomed the United States’ interest in Nigeria’s mining sector and underscored the importance of a collaborative approach. He stressed the need for reforms and an enabling environment to attract investment, signaling a new era of cooperation between the two countries.
The Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund, Fatima Shinkafi, also shed light on the role of the fund in facilitating mining investment. She specifically mentioned the partnership between the fund and the African Finance Corporation to generate geo-scientific data that would benefit potential investors.
As a result of these discussions, both countries have assembled a joint working group comprising of key officials from the US government and Nigeria. This working group is expected to kickstart comprehensive deliberations aimed at furthering this partnership.
The US team includes esteemed individuals such as Helaina Matza, the acting special coordinator for Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investments, and Ribhuti Jain, the regional managing director of the Development Finance Corporation. The Nigerian delegation, on the other hand, features top officials from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, including the Director-General of the Mining Cadastral Office, the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund, and the Director of Investments Promotion and Mineral Trade, amongst others.
This partnership between Nigeria and the United States represents a significant step towards harnessing the potential of Nigeria’s mining sector. By working together, the two countries aim to foster mutual economic benefits and strengthen their bilateral relations. This certainly presents an exciting development to monitor in the coming months.
