As part of its economic diversification strategy, Nigeria has signed a mining cooperation agreement with South Africa.
The announcement was made on Thursday by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing the country’s heavy reliance on oil revenues. This bilateral partnership aims to strengthen collaboration between the two countries in key areas such as drone-assisted geological mapping, the exchange of mineral resource data, and the joint exploration of strategic minerals, particularly those used in agriculture and energy sectors.
Despite being rich in natural resources—such as gold, limestone, lithium, iron ore, and zinc—and having 23 mining sites identified as viable for industrial-scale exploitation, Nigeria’s mining sector currently contributes less than 1% to the national GDP. The initiative seeks to revive this long-neglected industry by leveraging South Africa’s expertise in large-scale mining operations.
“This partnership represents a decisive step toward our ambition of making the mining sector a driver of economic growth,” said Dele Alake, highlighting the alliance’s potential to attract new investments and sustainably diversify Nigeria’s economy.