By Ayo Kehinde
Nigeria and France have formalised a partnership to enhance the critical minerals value chain in their solid minerals sectors, signing a memorandum of understanding to promote joint projects and sustainable mining practices.
The agreement, announced Sunday in a statement by Segun Tomori, media aide to Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, was finalised during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to France.
Alake signed on behalf of Nigeria, while Benjamin Gallezot, France’s Inter-Ministerial Delegate for Critical Ores and Metals, represented France.
The MoU encompasses research collaborations, capacity building, and environmental rehabilitation, with a focus on Franco-Nigerian student training programs. It also includes interventions to address over 2,000 abandoned mining sites in Nigeria.
Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements—key components of clean energy technologies—are central to the agreement. Both countries aim to establish sustainable mining practices, minimize environmental impacts, and promote the decarbonization of energy projects tied to the critical minerals value chain.
A key feature of the MoU is its emphasis on sustainable mining practices.
The agreement commits both nations to projects that reduce carbon emissions, conserve water, and address climate change challenges.
It also mandates adherence to international best practices to ensure transparency and improve the living conditions of communities affected by mining activities.
The partnership also envisions co-financed joint extraction and processing projects by public and private entities, aimed at diversifying and securing the supply of critical minerals essential for clean energy initiatives.
The agreement’s environmental focus includes plans to remediate abandoned pits across Nigeria, facilitating post-mining projects to rehabilitate affected areas.
Through regular training, seminars, and bilateral exchanges, administrators in the critical metals sector are expected to enhance their capacity to manage the sector’s value chain effectively.
Describing the MoU as a significant step in repositioning Nigeria’s solid minerals sector for international competitiveness, Alake said the agreement would attract French investors to Nigeria’s mining industry.
“This partnership aligns with the Tinubu administration’s vision to unlock Nigeria’s mining potential and diversify our economy,” Alake noted.
