Nigeria and Turkey have moved to deepen cooperation in the mining sector, as Abuja ramps up efforts to attract foreign investors and crack down on illegal mining operations nationwide.
Both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on solid mineral development during the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit (INRES) in Turkey, which officials described as a strategic move to strengthen economic and energy ties between Africa’s largest economy and one of Europe’s fastest-growing industrial powers.
For Nigeria, the agreement comes at a critical time as the government has spent the past three years trying to reposition the solid minerals sector as a major alternative revenue source amid pressure on oil earnings, rising debt concerns, and growing demands for economic diversification.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the partnership would allow Nigeria to tap into Turkey’s mining technology, exploration expertise, digitised licensing systems, and technical training capabilities.
“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 said.
