Nigeria and South Africa are deepening trade relations in the solid minerals sector to boost the economy of the African continent.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake stated this when he received the South African Minster of Mineral and Petroleum Resource, Gwede Mantashe, during the Nigeria-South Africa Technical working session on mining sector cooperation in his office in Abuja.
Dr. Alake said industrialisation of the mineral sector presented enormous possibilities for the continent.
The Minister noted that as the largest economies on the continent, both nations partnership in the mining sector hsd immense potential to drive industrialization, create jobs, and foster sustainable development across Africa.
He stressed that the meeting marked a significant step in the bilateral relationship between both nations, particularly in the critical sector of Solid Minerals Development.
“Nigeria and South Africa share a longstanding history of diplomatic and economic collaboration, rooted in mutual respect and a shared vision for Africa’s prosperity” Dr Alake stated.
Dr. Alake emphasized that the focus of the engagement would Enhance Cooperation in Geology, Mining, and Mineral Processing.
“Africa is endowed with vast mineral resources, yet the full benefits of these endowments have not been fully realized due to gaps in technology, infrastructure, and value addition” he stressed.
“By working together, Nigeria and South Africa can bridge these gaps, leveraging South Africa’s advanced mining expertise and Nigeria’s burgeoning mineral wealth to unlock new opportunities for investment, skills transfer, and economic diversification” the Minister added.
Dr. Alake explained that Nigeria was currently undergoing a major transformation in its mining sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We are committed to creating an enabling environment for responsible mining, attracting both local and foreign investments, and ensuring that our mineral resources contribute meaningfully to national development.
He noted that that the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of Geology, Mining, and Mineral Processing woudl serve as a cornerstone for the collaboration.
“The partnership will facilitate Knowledge and Technology Transfer, Sharing best practices in exploration, extraction, and beneficiation will enhance efficiency and sustainability.
“Also it will boost Investment Promotion Encouraging cross-border investments in mining projects and downstream industries and assist in Capacity Building, Strengthening technical and regulatory frameworks through joint training and research initiatives” he stressed.
“The collaboration will improve Regional Integration – Aligning with the African Mining Vision (AMV) to ensure that Africa’s minerals drive industrialization and inclusive growth as well as Value Addition, Strengthening the values of the Nigeria Solid Minerals before been introduced to the market.
“As we are all aware, South Africa’s mining sector is one of the most advanced in the world, and we are eager to learn from your experiences while also showcasing Nigeria’s vast potential in critical minerals such as lithium, gold, tin, baryte, and rare earth elements. This partnership presents a unique opportunity to position both nations as leaders in sustainable mineral development on the continent”
Dr. Alake therefore appealed to both nations to remain guided by the principles of mutual benefit, shared prosperity, and environmental stewardship expressing confidence that the outcomes of the meeting would not only deepen Nigeria-South Africa relations but also set a benchmark for intra-African collaboration in the mining sector.
Earlier, the south African minister of solid minerals Gwede Mantashe called on South Africans to collaborate with Nigerians for the growth of the African continent.
In his presentation, the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, described the meeting as a milestone in Nigeria-South Africa relations.
“This session has laid the groundwork for technical and strategic alignment. We are ready to implement the key resolutions reached and move toward tangible outcomes,” Audu said
He reiterated Nigeria’s interest in deepening cooperation in mineral processing, metallurgy, and mining governance.
