Dele Alake calls on British investors to tap into Nigeria’s mining potential, highlighting the establishment of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Corporation aimed at sustainable development. The government plans to enhance competitiveness in the sector by 2025, seeking significant foreign investment and international support for reforms.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has called on British investors to explore Nigeria’s mining sector during a meeting with Jonny Baxter, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria. He highlighted the Nigerian government’s openness to UK support in capacity building and technical assistance across the mining value chain.
Alake noted that President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Corporation, designed to transform the sector sustainably, with a structure similar to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) model. The corporation will aim for a 50% equity stake for the private sector, 25% for Nigerians, and 25% for the Federal Government, ensuring its operations remain free from political interference.
The government aims for a competitive mining sector by 2025, enhancing economic growth through improved access to mining sites, regulatory framework upgrades, and environmental remediation. Alake expressed optimism about the administration’s reform efforts, highlighting this pivotal year as a time for positive trends and economic prosperity.
Baxter commended Nigeria’s approach to forming the new corporation and reaffirmed the UK’s support for strengthening Nigeria’s regulatory framework, underlining that Nigeria’s growth is vital for global prosperity and expressing commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation in mining.
Nigeria possesses vast mineral resources, which play a vital role in its economic development. The government is seeking foreign investment, particularly from the UK, to enhance the mining sector’s capacity. The establishment of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Corporation is part of broader efforts to ensure sustainable development and attract significant players in the mining industry.
The Nigerian government is actively encouraging British investment in its mining sector, citing opportunities for collaboration in capacity building and technical assistance. The new Nigeria Solid Minerals Corporation is set to enhance investor security and create a competitive market, anticipated to contribute significantly to the nation’s economy by 2025.
Original Source: gazettengr.com