Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the solid minerals sector.
The agreement was signed during the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit (INRES) held in Istanbul, Türkiye.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said Nigeria would leverage Türkiye’s expertise in mining exploration, digitisation, training, licensing systems, and capacity building to drive reforms and growth in the sector.
Alake said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu fully supports efforts to strengthen bilateral ties with Türkiye, particularly in mining and energy development.
He noted that reforms introduced in the solid minerals sector over the past three years have improved the business environment and attracted genuine investors.
According to the minister, the Federal Government has introduced measures to sanitise the mining sector, improve ease of doing business, and create incentives for long-term foreign investment.
Alake also disclosed that increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows had been recorded in the sector following the reforms.
Highlighting efforts to curb illegal mining, he said the Mining Marshals had intensified operations across the country, leading to the arrest of over 300 illegal mining operators, including foreign nationals.
He added that more than 150 prosecutions are ongoing, while over 100 illegal mining sites have been recovered and returned to legitimate licence holders.
In his remarks, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, described the partnership with Nigeria as strategic and timely.
Bayraktar commended the Nigerian government for reforms introduced in the mining sector and stated that Turkish companies are eager to invest in Nigeria.
He further revealed that several Turkish firms are interested in expanding into Nigeria’s energy and hydrocarbon sectors, while expressing Türkiye’s interest in renewing energy cooperation agreements with Nigeria.
The Turkish minister also described Nigeria as a strategic gateway for Türkiye’s expanding economic engagement with Africa.
Meanwhile, during a panel session on global energy security, Alake stressed the need for peace and reduced global conflicts to achieve sustainable energy security.
He said ongoing conflicts around the world continue to threaten economic growth and energy security efforts globally.
