Nigeria Engages in Talks with Commonwealth on Deep Sea Mining Prospects
The recent meeting between the Nigerian delegation, led by Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake, and the Commonwealth Secretariat, has initiated discussions on the potential for deep sea mining in Nigeria’s coastal waters. The presentation from the Commonwealth Secretariat highlighted the profitable prospects of deep sea mining, aligning with Nigeria’s current efforts to diversify the economy and position the solid minerals sector on the global stage.
During the meeting, Dr. Oladele Alake emphasized the importance of the solid minerals sector in Nigeria’s economic diversification plans. He outlined the Seven Point Agenda, which includes key initiatives such as the establishment of a solid minerals company, gathering of Big Data on mineral reserves, improved security measures for mining sites, and the socio-economic development of mining communities through effective community development agreements.
The Commonwealth, with its wealth of expertise and experience, was identified by Dr. Alake as a valuable partner to support Nigeria’s mineral development initiatives. As a former British colony and a member of the 54-member Commonwealth, Nigeria looks to leverage this partnership to advance its deep sea mining agenda.
In response, Senior Director, Trade, Oceans & Natural Resources, Paul Kautoke, acknowledged Nigeria’s potential as a coastal country to explore deep sea mining opportunities. He highlighted the extraction of minerals such as copper, cobalt, nickel, gold, and rare earth elements as key prospects for Nigeria. He also referenced the progress made by other Commonwealth countries in the Pacific region in the deep sea mining sector, offering the Commonwealth’s assistance in developing policies for Nigeria.
The forum also featured discussions from various Commonwealth representatives, including Victor Kitange, Opeyemi Abebe, Daniel Wilder, and Allison Swaddling, who emphasized the progress in deep sea mining and expressed concerns about African countries lagging behind in the sector. They also highlighted the availability of online training programmes and assistance in developing the capacity for deep sea mining.
In conclusion, Dr. Oladele Alake expressed his commitment to exploring the dimension of deep sea mining in collaboration with other ministries and putting together a country proposal for further consideration.
As discussions on deep sea mining in Nigeria progress, the potential for economic growth and diversification through the development of the solid minerals sector is an exciting prospect. The partnership with the Commonwealth presents opportunities for Nigeria to leverage international expertise and resources to drive its deep sea mining initiatives forward.
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