Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has called on global investors to increase their stakes in the country’s solid minerals sector, citing major reforms that make Nigeria one of the best destinations for mining investment.
Speaking at the China Mining Conference in Tianjin, Dr. Alake said recent initiatives — including the deployment of Mining Marshals and a new satellite mines monitoring system — are improving security and curbing illegal mining nationwide.
He also highlighted technological upgrades like the Electronic Mining Cadastre (EMC+), the Mineral Resources Decision System, and the Ministry’s Centre of Excellence, which now make mining applications and data access easier for investors worldwide.
According to the Minister, Chinese companies have invested over 1.3 billion dollars in lithium processing alone since September 2023, following agreements signed by President Bola Tinubu during his visit to China last year.
Dr. Alake, who also chairs the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to responsible mining and regional cooperation, noting that the government is expanding the Solid Minerals Development Fund to support early-stage exploration.
He invited investors to explore opportunities in lithium, gold, lead-zinc, barite, and rare earth elements, emphasizing that Nigeria’s goal is not just mineral extraction, but building a full value chain that supports clean energy, jobs, and industrial growth.
In a technical session, Professor Olusegun Ige, Director-General of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, showcased the country’s growing mineral data systems and called for more investment in exploration to convert data into proven resources.
