Nigeria, Türkiye Sign MoU to Deepen Cooperation in Solid Minerals Development

Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen their bilateral cooperation in the solid minerals sector. The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit (INRES) in Istanbul, marks a significant step in strengthening economic ties between the two nations.

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Türkiye is one of the countries we are confident of building strong bilateral cooperation with, particularly in the area of solid minerals development.

Nigeria's Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, expressed Nigeria's readiness to utilize Türkiye's advanced technology and expertise in areas such as mining exploration, training, digitization, licensing, and capacity building. This collaboration is intended to accelerate reforms and foster growth within Nigeria's mining industry. President Bola Tinubu has reportedly given his full support to strengthening bilateral relations with Türkiye, particularly in the mining and energy sectors.

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Nigeria is open to working with the Turkish government to strengthen governance structures, improve technical capacity, and advance sustainable mining development in our country.

Alake highlighted that Türkiye is a key partner for building strong bilateral cooperation. He stated that Nigeria is open to working with the Turkish government to enhance governance structures, improve technical capabilities, and promote sustainable mining practices. Reforms implemented in Nigeria's solid minerals sector over the past three years have transformed the operating environment, making it more attractive to investors. These measures include improving the ease of doing business, providing institutional support, and offering incentives for foreign investors seeking long-term partnerships.

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We have significantly improved the ease of doing business and strengthened institutional support for investors. Investors can now repatriate profits after due process, while government incentives have continued to attract serious mining stakeholders into Nigeria.

The minister also noted that reforms have led to increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and reassured investors of the government's commitment to security and lawful mining operations. Nigeria has intensified efforts against illegal mining, with specially created Mining Marshals arresting over 300 illegal operators, including foreign nationals, and initiating more than 150 prosecutions. Over 100 illegal mining sites have been recovered and returned to legitimate license owners. Türkiye's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, described the partnership as strategic and timely, emphasizing its importance for global energy security.

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As of the latest count, over 300 illegal mining operators, including foreign nationals, have been arrested, while more than 150 prosecutions are currently ongoing.