The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has called on global investors to take advantage of Nigeria’s expanding opportunities in the solid minerals sector, citing sweeping reforms and improved security that guarantee higher returns.
Speaking at the 2025 China Mining Conference in Tianjin, themed “Connect and Collaborate, Co-Build and Co-Share,” Alake highlighted ongoing reforms that have transformed Nigeria’s mining landscape. These include the establishment of Mining Marshals to curb illegal operations and the introduction of satellite monitoring systems to safeguard licensed miners.
He also pointed to technological innovations that have simplified business operations and licensing processes, such as the Electronic Mining Cadastre (EMC+), the Nigerian Mineral Resources Decision System (NMRDS), and the upgraded websites of the ministry and its agencies.
Reviewing the success of Chinese partnerships, Alake revealed that investments in lithium processing alone have reached $1.3 billion since September 2023, following several Memoranda of Understanding signed during President Bola Tinubu’s 2024 state visit to China.
“Chinese companies such as Canmax Technology, Jiuling Lithium, Avatar New Energy Nigeria Company, and Asba have collectively invested over $1.3 billion in lithium processing,” he said. “These investments have boosted Nigeria’s diversification drive, reduced reliance on oil, and fostered technology transfer and local skill development.”
As chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), Alake reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to continental collaboration on mineral exploration standards, emphasizing the need for shared governance and knowledge systems across Africa. He disclosed plans to strengthen regional Centres of Excellence in Geosciences and Mining Skills and expand the role of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) and its SMDF-AFC Facility in supporting exploration and de-risking investments.
He assured investors of Nigeria’s stable and attractive business environment, saying:
“We warmly invite investors, development partners, and technical institutions to explore Nigeria’s vast opportunities in minerals such as lithium, gold, lead-zinc, barite, and rare earth elements. Our goal is not only to extract minerals but to build a globally competitive value chain that drives clean energy transition, job creation, and industrial growth.”
At a technical session on “Mining in Africa and Policy,” the Director-General of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Professor Olusegun Omoniyi Ige, presented the National Mineral Resources Data System (NMRDS) and Nigeria’s rich geochemical and aeromagnetic datasets. He noted that while these have deepened geological understanding, more investment is needed to expand exploration and convert data into proven mineral resources.
Other notable speakers included Mr. Xu Xueyi, Deputy Director-General of the China Geological Survey; H.E. Mohamed Ahmed Taha, Minister of Minerals of Sudan; Ms. Phumzile Mgcina, Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources of South Africa; and Mr. Joseph Lebbie, Director-General of Geological Exploration, Sierra Leone.