Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria and Canada are set to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the solid minerals sector following a high-level meeting between the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, and the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio.
Alake disclosed that discussions focused on leveraging Canada’s mining expertise and technology to support ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s mining industry for growth, transparency and global competitiveness.
“I reaffirmed our readiness to partner with Canada to strengthen our mining sector. Canada’s expertise and technology can support the reforms we are driving to grow the industry, attract credible investors, and uphold global standards,” the minister said.
According to Alake, Nigeria is implementing measures to formalise artisanal mining operations, improve regulatory clarity and build local capacity across the value chain.
“Our focus is formalising artisanal operations, building local capacity, and offering clear incentives such as tax waivers on mining equipment and full profit repatriation after statutory obligations are met,” he stated.
The minister noted that the incentive framework is designed to attract reputable global investors while ensuring compliance with Nigerian laws and sustainable development principles.
Both parties agreed to establish a joint working group to define priority areas of collaboration and implementation timelines.
“We agreed to set up a joint working group to define priority areas and timelines. The goal is to ensure tangible results that benefit both countries,” Alake added.
The engagement signals Nigeria’s push to diversify its economy by unlocking value in the solid minerals sector, with international partnerships seen as critical to transferring technology, improving governance standards and expanding export potential.
