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From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has said sweeping reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are attracting global investors and accelerating growth in Nigeria’s mining sector.
Alake said the reforms are already delivering measurable gains, including increased contribution of the sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), rising foreign direct investment and Nigeria’s growing reputation as a preferred mining destination.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, the minister said Nigeria is positioning itself as a competitive and responsible mining hub for global investors.
Speaking through the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Engr. Obadiah Nkom, at the just-concluded Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention in Toronto, Alake assured investors that Nigeria is open to credible partners committed to responsible and sustainable mining.
Addressing participants at the 27th Annual African Mining Breakfast, a high-level gathering of African ministers, industry leaders and global investors, the minister called for stronger collaboration among African countries to unlock the continent’s vast mineral wealth.
Nigeria’s delegation also participated in the International Mines Ministers Summit, which drew representatives from France, Chile, Saudi Arabia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Canada, Egypt, Australia, the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development, and the World Economic Forum.
Alake reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to value addition, stressing that Nigeria has moved beyond exporting raw minerals and is now prioritising local processing to maximise economic benefits.
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He also emphasised the need for deeper cross-border integration in Africa’s mining industry, noting that coordinated policies and structured agreements would unlock greater opportunities for trade, investment and shared infrastructure.
“Integration does not fail because Africa lacks frameworks. It fails because projects stall between borders. A mine may be viable in one country, but the rail link, power line or processing facility sits across the border, and no institution takes responsibility for connecting these pieces,” he said.
Alake urged development finance institutions and strategic investors to move beyond isolated funding and support regional mining infrastructure.
“Nigeria is ready to anchor such corridors. We have the data, the reforms and the political backing. What we need now is capital structured for integration,” he added.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Nigerian delegation met with Chairperson of the Canada–Africa Chamber of Business, Paula Caldwell, to discuss ways of strengthening Canada–Nigeria mining partnerships.
The meeting, facilitated by the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, explored opportunities to expand commercial engagement between Canadian companies and Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
Discussions also focused on the proposed African Partnership Business Conference scheduled for May, aimed at connecting Canadian companies with investment opportunities and African government stakeholders.
The four-day PDAC conference featured engagements with international mining executives, development partners and potential investors, showcasing Nigeria’s vast mineral resources and ongoing reforms aimed at improving transparency, strengthening geological data, formalising artisanal mining and creating a more competitive investment climate.
