The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has reiterated Nigeria’s enthusiasm for attracting global mining heavyweights, citing ongoing reforms and efforts to boost sector efficiency.
During a meeting with Glencore’s Group CEO, Mr. Gary Nagle, Dr. Alake showcased Nigeria’s wealth of critical minerals like Lithium, gold, zinc, and nickel, highlighting their soaring global demand.
Dr. Alake assured Glencore of the government’s commitment to creating a favorable operating environment and efficient governance structure for the sector.
He urged the company to capitalize on Nigeria’s inviting investment climate, offering incentives like tax waivers, profit repatriation policies, and ease of doing business initiatives.
Dr. Alake pledged to address any concerns Glencore might have, ensuring seamless operations.
Mr. Nagle praised the reforms in the mining sector and the economy, emphasizing the need for policy stability. He expressed interest in investing in nickel, cobalt, zinc, and other minerals, stressing the importance of a stable business climate.
In a related development, Dr. Alake presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of the ASBA-Wisdom Lithium processing plant in Abuja, aligning with the government’s value addition policy.
The plant aims to produce 1.6 million tonnes of processed lithium annually and create employment opportunities for 1,200 Nigerians.
Dr. Alake assured the federal government’s support for the Lithium project, underscoring the importance of diversifying the economy through mining sector development, a key aspect of the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda.
