The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake, has led a high-level delegation to engage in talks with the Commonwealth Secretariat on matters of mineral development.
A statement said the strategic move was aimed bolstering Nigeria’s position in the global solid minerals sector,
The discussions, initiated by Alake’s commitment to garner international support, focused on unlocking the lucrative potential of deep sea mining in Nigeria’s coastal waters, a statement from his Special Adviser, Kehinde Bamigbetan on Sunday disclosed.
During the courtesy visit, the Commonwealth Secretariat presented compelling prospects for deep-sea mining, emphasising the wealth of minerals—such as copper, cobalt, nickel, gold, and rare earth elements—that could be harnessed from Nigeria’s coastal region.
Alake underscored President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recognition of the solid minerals sector as a pivotal element in diversifying Nigeria’s economy.
Highlighting the ministry’s Seven Point Agenda, Alake outlined key initiatives, including “the establishment of a solid minerals company, comprehensive big data collection on mineral reserves, enhanced security measures for mining safety, and the socio-economic development of mining communities through effective community development agreements.”
Senior Director of the Trade, Oceans, and Natural Resources Department at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Paul Kautoke, lauded the delegation’s visit and expressed optimism about Nigeria exploring profitable opportunities in deep sea mining.
The statement noted that the forum also featured insights from Commonwealth representatives, including Director of Natural Resources Victor Kitange, Trade and Investment Adviser Opeyemi Abebe, Economic Adviser Daniel Wilder, and Ocean Governance Adviser Allison Swaddling.
The Commonwealth experts highlighted progress in deep sea mining globally, expressing concerns about Africa’s lagging participation.
In response, Alake recognised the need for a new approach to mineral development and committed to collaborating with other ministries to comprehensively study the dimensions of deep sea mining.
