- Nigeria and France have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop joint projects and promote critical minerals in the solid minerals sector.
- The partnership aims to address numerous challenges, including the remediation of over 2,000 abandoned mining pits across Nigeria.
- The MOU covers research collaborations, knowledge exchange, and capacity building through Franco-Nigerian student training programs.
Nigeria has taken a significant step in repositioning its solid minerals sector for international competitiveness by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with France. The agreement, signed on the sidelines of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official visit to France, aims to develop joint projects and promote critical minerals in the solid minerals sector.
The partnership will focus on key minerals such as copper, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements, essential for clean energy technologies. Both countries have committed to sustainable mining practices, reducing environmental impact, and decarbonizing energy projects linked to the mineral value chain.
The MOU also includes provisions for environmental rehabilitation, including interventions in over 2,000 abandoned mining sites in Nigeria. The partnership is expected to open new opportunities for the remediation of these abandoned pits through environmental rehabilitation and post-mining projects.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, described the partnership as a significant step in repositioning Nigeria’s solid minerals sector for global competitiveness. He emphasized that the Ministry would leverage the partnership to open up the mining sector to French investors.
