The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, briefing newsmen in Abuja
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has revealed that Chinese firms have committed over $1.3 billion to lithium processing projects across the country, underscoring growing international confidence in Nigeria’s mining reforms.
Alake made this known while addressing participants at the 2025 China Mining Conference in Tianjin, themed “Connect and Collaborate, Co-Build and Co-Share.”
In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja, the minister reviewed the expanding footprint of Chinese investors in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector and acknowledged their active role since the administration of President Bola Tinubu took office.
> “Since September 2023, when this administration assumed office, Chinese companies such as Canmax Technology, Jiuling Lithium, Avatar New Energy Nigeria Company, and Asba have invested over 1.3 billion U.S. dollars in lithium processing,” Alake disclosed.
He noted that these investments are helping to diversify Nigeria’s economy, reducing its long-standing dependence on oil while also attracting much-needed infrastructure, technology transfer, and expertise.
According to him, joint ventures between Chinese and Nigerian firms have been instrumental in building local capacity, enhancing the technical skills of Nigerian engineers and workers.
Alake encouraged more investors to take advantage of new policy reforms designed to make the solid minerals sector more transparent, secure, and profitable.
To strengthen security and curb illegal mining, the minister highlighted the creation of Mining Marshals and a satellite-based monitoring system to protect licensed operators.
He also pointed to the ministry’s drive to improve ease of doing business through digital tools such as the Electronic Mining Cadastre (eMC+) and the Nigerian Mineral Resources Decision System (NMRDS). These platforms, he said, have simplified licensing procedures and expanded access to real-time mineral data.
As Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), Alake reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deeper regional collaboration in mineral exploration and standardization.
He stressed that Africa must build shared systems of knowledge and governance to unlock the full value of its mineral wealth, while promoting transparency and sustainability.
The minister further outlined plans to strengthen regional Centres of Excellence in Geosciences and Mining Skills, as well as expand the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) to support early-stage exploration and reduce investment risks.
> “We warmly invite investors, development partners, and technical institutions to explore Nigeria’s vast opportunities in minerals such as lithium, gold, lead-zinc, barite, and rare earth elements,” he said.
“Our government offers a conducive investment climate, improved security of tenure, and incentives that guarantee mutual benefit.”
Alake added that Nigeria’s long-term vision goes beyond extraction, aiming to establish a globally competitive minerals value chain that promotes clean energy transition, job creation, and industrial growth — all anchored in responsible mining practices.
(NAN)
