Nigeria, Türkiye Seal Mining Pact as Alake Pushes Fresh Investment Drive

Segun Atanda/

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in solid minerals development, in a move expected to boost foreign investment, technology transfer, and sustainable mining operations in Nigeria.

The agreement was signed during the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit (INRES) in Istanbul, where both countries pledged deeper collaboration in mining exploration, digitisation, capacity building, licensing systems, and energy cooperation.

Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, described the partnership as a strategic step towards accelerating reforms in Nigeria’s mining sector through Türkiye’s technological expertise and industrial experience.

According to Alake, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given full support to efforts aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Türkiye, particularly in the mining and energy sectors.

“Türkiye is one of the countries we are confident of building strong bilateral cooperation with, particularly in the area of solid minerals development,” the minister said, adding that Nigeria remains open to partnerships capable of strengthening governance structures, improving technical capacity, and promoting sustainable mining practices.

Alake, who also chairs the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, stated that reforms introduced in the mining sector over the past three years have significantly transformed the operating environment and made Nigeria more attractive to serious investors.

He noted that the Federal Government had implemented extensive reforms to sanitise the sector, improve ease of doing business, and create incentives for investors interested in long-term partnerships.

“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,” Alake said.

The minister disclosed that the reforms had already triggered increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into the sector, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to security and lawful mining activities nationwide.

Highlighting enforcement efforts against illegal mining, Alake revealed that the specially established Mining Marshals had intensified nationwide crackdowns on illegal operators.

He said more than 300 illegal mining operators, including foreign nationals, had been arrested, while over 150 prosecutions were ongoing.

According to him, more than 100 illegal mining sites have also been recovered and returned to legitimate licence owners to restore investor confidence.

Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, described the partnership with Nigeria as strategic and timely amid growing global concerns over energy security.

Bayraktar praised the Nigerian government for reforms already introduced in the solid minerals sector and disclosed that Turkish companies were eager to invest in Nigeria.

“We are ready to invest in Nigeria because of the remarkable initiatives your government has put in place,” he said.

The Turkish minister further revealed that several Turkish industrial firms were interested in expanding operations into Nigeria beyond mining, particularly in energy and hydrocarbons.

He also identified Nigeria as a major gateway for Türkiye’s broader economic and energy engagement across Africa.

Meanwhile, speaking during a panel session titled “Energy Security in a Shifting Global Landscape: Connectivity and Cooperation,” Alake stressed the urgent need for global peace and conflict reduction as essential conditions for sustainable energy security.

“Without reducing conflicts around the world, economic imperatives and global energy security efforts will continue to face significant challenges,” he said.