The Commonwealth Secretariat recently engaged with Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, exploring enhancements in deep sea mining in Nigerian waters. Alake, aiming to secure international support to rejuvenate the solid minerals sector, emphasised Nigeria’s potential to tap into lucrative mineral resources during his visit to the Commonwealth.
Key points from the discussion included:
– The presentation by the Commonwealth highlighted valuable minerals available offshore, including copper, cobalt, nickel, gold, and rare earth elements.
– Alake shared the ministry’s Seven Point Agenda, which includes:
1. Establishing a solid minerals company.
2. Conducting thorough data collection on mineral reserves.
3. Implementing enhanced security for mining operations.
4. Promoting socio-economic growth in mining communities through development agreements.
– The Minister stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prioritises the solid minerals sector to boost Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts.