Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has called for stronger regional integration in Africa’s mining industry, stressing that coordinated policies, infrastructure development and cross-border investments are critical to unlocking the sector’s full potential.
Alake, who said this at the just concluded Prospectors and Development Association of Canada Conference held in Toronto, Canada, added that Nigeria is ready to lead regional mining corridors backed by reliable geological data, regulatory reforms and political support.
Addressing participants at the 27th Annual African Mining Breakfast, a high-level platform convening African Ministers, industry leaders, and global investors for sustained dialogue on unlocking the continent’s mineral wealth, the Minister says reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s reforms are driving renewed growth in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector and have led to increased foreign direct investment, improved contribution of the sector to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Alake, who was represented by the Director – General, Mining Cadastre office, Obadiah Nkom, noted that Nigeria is shifting from exporting raw minerals to promoting local processing and value addition to ensure greater economic benefits for citizens.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Nigerian delegation met with the Chairperson of the Canada Africa Chamber of Business, Paula Caldwell, to explore opportunities for expanding Nigeria- Canada investment partnerships in the mining sector.
The meeting, facilitated by the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, also discussed the proposed African Partnership Business Conference scheduled for May, aimed at connecting Canadian companies with investment opportunities across Africa, including Nigeria.
The four-day conference featured engagements with global mining executives, development partners and investors to showcase Nigeria’s mineral potential and ongoing reforms to improve transparency, strengthen geological data and formalize artisanal mining activities.
(Editor: Roluke Ogundele)
