Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in the solid minerals sector, in a move expected to strengthen investment, technology transfer and mining sector reforms between both countries.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the partnership would enable Nigeria to benefit from Türkiye’s technological expertise in mining exploration, digitisation, licensing systems, training and capacity building.
“Türkiye is one of the countries we are confident of building strong bilateral cooperation with, particularly in the area of solid minerals development,” Alake said.
The minister noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had given full backing to efforts aimed at strengthening bilateral relations with Türkiye in the mining and energy sectors.
“Nigeria is open to working with the Turkish government to strengthen governance structures, improve technical capacity, and advance sustainable mining development in our country,” he stated.
Alake, who also chairs the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, said reforms introduced in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector over the past three years had significantly improved the operating environment and made the industry more attractive to investors.
According to him, the Federal Government has implemented measures to sanitise the sector, improve ease of doing business and create incentives for genuine 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 reiterating the government’s commitment to tackling illegal mining and protecting lawful operators.
Highlighting enforcement efforts, Alake said the Mining Marshals established by the Federal Government had intensified crackdowns on illegal mining activities nationwide.
“As of the latest count, over 300 illegal mining operators, including foreign nationals, have been arrested, while more than 150 prosecutions are currently ongoing,” he revealed.
“In addition, over 100 illegal mining sites have been recovered and returned to legitimate licence owners as part of efforts to restore investor confidence and strengthen lawful operations in the sector.”
Responding, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, described the agreement as strategic and timely, stressing that global energy security requires stronger international cooperation.
Bayraktar commended Nigeria’s ongoing reforms in the mining sector and expressed the readiness of Turkish companies to invest in the country.
“We are ready to invest in Nigeria because of the remarkable initiatives your government has put in place. We look forward to cooperation, support, and guidance that will enable both countries achieve meaningful results,” he said.
The Turkish minister further disclosed that several Turkish industrial manufacturers were interested in expanding into Nigeria beyond mining, especially in the energy and hydrocarbon sectors.
“Nigeria is a major player in the hydrocarbon industry. We would appreciate it if you convey to your President our desire to renew energy cooperation and contracts with Nigeria,” Bayraktar added.
Meanwhile, during a panel session titled Energy Security in a Shifting Global Landscape: Connectivity and Cooperation, Alake stressed the importance of global peace and conflict reduction in achieving sustainable energy security.
“Without reducing conflicts around the world, economic imperatives and global energy security efforts will continue to face significant challenges,” the minister said.
“Without peace, discussions around energy security become difficult. The international community must work seriously towards peace if we truly want to guarantee sustainable energy security for the future.”