Exploring the Depths: Nigeria Engages in Talks on Deep Sea Mining with Commonwealth
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in conjunction with the Commonwealth Secretariat, has participated in discussions concerning the prospect of deep sea mining within Nigeria’s coastal waters. The discussions occurred during a recent visit to London by Dr. Oladele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, accompanied by a Nigerian delegation, as they paid a courtesy visit to the Commonwealth Secretariat.
As per a statement by Kehinde Bamigbetan, Special Adviser to the Minister, the purpose of the visit was to seek international support in positioning Nigeria’s solid minerals sector to compete on a global scale. It was noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has identified the solid minerals sector as a key component in Nigeria’s current efforts to diversify the economy.
During the discussions, Minister Alake introduced the Seven Point Agenda, a strategic framework aimed at developing the solid minerals sector, which includes the establishment of a solid minerals company, collection of comprehensive data on mineral reserves to attract investments, enhanced security for mining operations, and the promotion of socio-economic development within mining communities through effective community development agreements.
The Commonwealth team, led by senior director Paul Kautoke, expressed their gratitude for the Nigerian delegation’s visit. Kautoke highlighted the potential for Nigeria, as a coastal country, to benefit from the extraction of deep sea minerals, such as copper, cobalt, nickel, gold, and rare earth elements. He also emphasized the Commonwealth’s willingness to assist in developing a policy framework tailored to Nigeria’s needs.
Furthermore, the forum saw contributions from various Commonwealth representatives including Victor Kitange, Opeyemi Abebe, Daniel Wilder, and Allison Swaddling, who shared insights on the progress in deep sea mining and expressed concern over the lag in African countries’ participation in the industry.
In response to the discussions, Minister Alake affirmed that the deliberations had shed light on a new dimension of mineral development. He pledged to collaborate with other ministries to explore the potential of deep sea mining and assemble a comprehensive proposal for further consideration.
The engagement with the Commonwealth Secretariat signifies a significant step towards integrating Nigeria into the global dialogue on deep sea mining. As the country seeks to diversify its economy and harness its natural resources, collaboration with international partners will be instrumental in driving the sustainable development of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
