Nigerian Minister Shares Lithium Data with Qatari Businessmen
The announcement made by Minister Oladele Alake of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency regarding the valuable lithium data during a meeting with Qatari businessmen in Doha, Qatar, marks a significant opportunity for businesses interested in establishing lithium companies in Nigeria. This information, disclosed during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to the Arab country, underscores the government’s commitment to attracting foreign investments in the mineral sector.
As stated by Kehinde Bamigbetan, special adviser to the minister, Alake’s response to inquiries from Qatari business mogul Sheikh Shahid Jawad at the prestigious Sheraton Doha emphasized the successful identification of locations with commercially viable quantities of high-grade lithium through the Federal Government’s mineral exploration efforts. Alake’s verification of the high-grade lithium content of rock composite samples from Nigeria, validated through laboratory analyses, solidifies the quality of Nigerian lithium in the global mining industry.
Furthermore, the Minister highlighted Nigeria’s investor-friendly policies to facilitate business, encouraging Qatari businessmen to explore opportunities within the mining sector. This sentiment was echoed by the Executive Secretary of Solid Minerals Development Fund, Fatimah Shinkafi, who emphasized the significance of transportation in future cost control for mining companies, citing the example of Vale, a mining company in Brazil.
The meeting also witnessed an update from Muhammed Santuraki, the Vice-chairman of the Qatar-Nigerian Chamber of Business, on the chamber’s activities in the mining sector, underscoring the presence of well-built roads for the transportation of minerals to the ports in Nasarawa State. Notable businessmen at the meeting included Sheikh El Jouneid, Chief Executive Officer of ETCC Qatar, and Aminu Dahiru, chairman of Asdub Oil & Gas.
As Nigeria’s mineral industry continues to flourish, the availability of comprehensive lithium data from authoritative sources will play a pivotal role in fostering strong business relations between Nigeria and Qatar in this sector.
