Profitable prospects for deep sea mining in Nigeria’s coastal waters topped the presentation of the Commonwealth Secretariat to the Nigerian delegation led by Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, while on courtesy visit to the institution.
In his determination to mobilize international assistance to reposition the solid minerals sector to compete globally, Alake requested to discuss matters of minerals development with the Commonwealth.
The discussions, initiated by Alake’s commitment to garner international support, focused on unlocking the lucrative potential of deep sea mining in Nigeria’s coastal waters, a statement from his Special Adviser, Kehinde Bamigbetan on Sunday disclosed.
During the courtesy visit, the Commonwealth Secretariat presented compelling prospects for deep-sea mining, emphasising the wealth of minerals—such as copper, cobalt, nickel, gold, and rare earth elements—that could be harnessed from Nigeria’s coastal region.
Highlighting the ministry’s Seven Point Agenda, Alake outlined key initiatives, including “the establishment of a solid minerals company, comprehensive big data collection on mineral reserves, enhanced security measures for mining safety, and the socio-economic development of mining communities through effective community development agreements”.
Addressing the forum, Alake said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has identified the solid minerals sector as a pillar of Nigeria’s current efforts to diversify the economy.
