Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has formally sought a partnership with Saudi Arabia to enhance the nation’s mining sector.
During a meeting in Riyadh with his Saudi counterpart, Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, Alake emphasized Nigeria’s goal to become a leading minerals hub in Africa, driven by a policy of value addition.
He highlighted key projects, including new gold refineries and a lithium processing plant, as evidence of the sector’s growth potential.
The proposed collaboration would focus on capacity building, technology transfer, and leveraging Saudi Arabia’s expertise in mineral exploration to unlock Nigeria’s vast, untapped resources.
In a positive response, the Saudi minister agreed on the need for a practical agreement and suggested drafting a memorandum of understanding to formalize the partnership.
