Nigeria seeks Canadian expertise to accelerate mining development
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has expressed Nigeria’s readiness to partner with Canada to accelerate ongoing reforms in the mining sector and attract increased foreign investment.
Alake made this known on Thursday while receiving the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, in his office. He said Nigeria was keen to leverage Canada’s advanced mining technology and global expertise to strengthen regulatory frameworks, enhance capacity building and entrench international best practices in the industry.
Reflecting on historical ties, the minister recalled Canada’s support for Nigeria during the pro-democracy struggle that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, noting that Canada’s stance helped galvanise international backing that eventually led to the restoration of civil rule in 1999.
“Canada stood firmly on the side of the Nigerian people during our pro-democracy struggle. Today, we are committed to strengthening that relationship, particularly in mining and mineral development, where Canada’s global reputation for excellence is well established,” Alake said.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to de-risking the mining environment, formalising artisanal mining operations, promoting technology transfer and creating a more investor-friendly climate. The minister highlighted incentives such as tax waivers on imported mining equipment and full repatriation of profits after meeting statutory obligations, including taxes and royalties.
In his remarks, Ambassador Salvaggio commended Nigeria for acknowledging Canada’s longstanding relationship with the country and its leadership in the global mining industry. He noted that Nigeria is currently Canada’s second-largest trading partner in Africa and said there is strong potential to expand bilateral trade, particularly in mining.
The envoy also urged the Federal Government to revisit and ratify the stalled Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, describing it as critical to boosting investor confidence and safeguarding investments. He further pledged Canada’s readiness to expand capacity-building initiatives for Nigerian mining professionals.
Responding, Alake said the government would review and expedite the agreement’s ratification process, reiterating President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to attracting foreign direct investment as a driver of economic growth and job creation. Both countries agreed to establish a joint working group to identify priority areas of cooperation and develop actionable timelines.
