- Nigeria and France signed an MOU to address over 2,000 abandoned mining pits in Nigeria
- The agreement focused on boosting the critical minerals value chain and promoting sustainable mining practices
- Joint ventures and co-financing initiatives to drive international competitiveness in Nigeria’s mining sector
A new MOU between Nigeria and France will lead to the revival of over 2,000 neglected mining pits across the country, as part of a collaborative effort in the solid minerals sector.
This was disclosed by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake in a statement released in Abuja on Sunday, December 1, following the signing of the MOU during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to France the previous week.
Nigeria, France sign agreement on sustainable mining
“Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements are essential to clean energy technologies.
“Both countries agreed to collaborate on research, training and Franco-Nigerian students exchanges for knowledge and skills transfer.
“A key component of the MOU is the promotion of sustainable mining activities by executing projects and programmes that reduce the environmental impact of mining on carbon emissions, water consumption, and climate change,” the statement read.
The statement, signed by Segun Tomori, the senior special assistant on media to Alake, revealed that the MOU is expected to offer fresh opportunities for addressing over 2,000 abandoned pits across the country through environmental remediation and post-mining efforts.
He explained that both Nigeria and France have agreed to collaborate on joint ventures aimed at boosting and diversifying the critical minerals value chain in their solid minerals industries.
Alake noted that the signing of the MOU aligned with President Tinubu’s strategy to reposition the country’s solid minerals sector for greater international competitiveness.
MOU to diversify minerals supply, attract French investment
The statement further read, “It also includes the establishment of joint execrative and processing projects through co-financing by public and private entities to diversify and secure the supply of critical minerals and decarbonise energy projects critical to the value chain.
“Dr Alake signed for Nigeria while the Inter-Ministerial delegate for Critical Ores and Metals of the Republic of France, Mr Benjamin Gallezot, signed on behalf of France.
“Both nations agreed to adopt international best practices in the execution of projects conceptualised to improve the conditions of the local populace affected by mining whilst placing premium on transparency.”
Alake described the deal as a significant boost to the Tinubu administration’s efforts to make Nigeria’s solid minerals sector internationally competitive, emphasising that the ministry would use the partnership to attract French investors to the mining industry.
Nigeria, UAE strengthen ties amid concerns of gold smuggling
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Minister Dele Alake raised concerns about illegal gold exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Minister called for collaborative strategies to regulate gold trade and benefit both countries.