Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake says the country wants to “put our mining sector on the global map” through strategic partnership with the United States.
Speaking while receiving U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affairs David Greene, Alake said Nigeria seeks to diversify from oil and be “in tune with global trends for reduced emissions.”
“We have critical minerals in commercial demand globally,” the minister asserted. He outlined plans to reform the mining industry and welcomes U.S. collaboration on investments, technology access and security.
For his part, Greene said Nigeria’s mining sector has “huge potential” to rival oil’s economic contribution. He conveyed interest in extracting and processing minerals while training security forces to protect mining areas.
Alake emphasized the sector can drive U.S.-Nigeria trade, particularly in mineral processing and manufacturing. He highlighted incentives like tax breaks to attract foreign investors.
With the global energy transition accelerating demand for critical metals, both countries see new urgency in transforming Nigeria’s underdeveloped mining industry into a strategic national asset.
Yet realizing that potential will require overcoming major hurdles like informal operations, community tensions and insecurity. Alake spotlighted initiatives like cooperatives for artisanal miners to bring more actors into the formal economy.
As Nigeria works to harness its mineral wealth, officials hope strengthened U.S. partnership across the mining value chain will help catalyze growth while aligning with decarbonization trends.
“We want to put our mining sector on the global map,” Alake affirmed. The coming months may determine whether that long-held goal can finally materialize.
