Abuja: Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have renewed plans to build the capacity of their geological agencies by leveraging the breakthroughs recorded by Saudi firms in mineral exploration. Segun Tomori, the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, this development was announced on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Tomori stated that the decision was made during a closed-door meeting between Nigeria’s delegation, led by Alake, and a Saudi delegation led by its Minister of Mining, Bandar Al-Khorayef. Alake proposed collaboration in areas of economic advantage and urged partnerships based on the sector’s value chain, using Saudi Arabia’s renowned gold market as an example. This collaboration could allow Nigeria’s gold refineries access to the Saudi market under protective clauses.
Al-Khorayef disclosed that Saudi Arabia’s government and private sector were working together to introduce new technologies for mineral exploration. He emphasized that new products were showcased at the minerals forum conference to promote business partnerships and raise awareness of their applications. Alake also met with officials from the Saudi Chamber of Commerce, advocating for investment in Nigeria’s mining sector and highlighting the large deposits of lithium and iron ore being processed in Nigeria.
The minister assured potential investors of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency’s support in providing relevant mineral data to de-risk their investments. He emphasized Nigeria’s strategic position as a supplier of minerals for electric machines, which use lithium batteries. Alake quoted that partnership with Saudi investors would encourage the export of finished industrial inputs. He also acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s investment in steel production and pointed out examples of Nigerian companies processing iron ore to steel.
Alake reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for investors, ensuring smooth operations in mining projects. This includes the establishment of laboratories for mineral separation and analysis. He noted, “Nigeria has the best certified laboratories for minerals in West Africa.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 2025 Future Minerals Forum (FMF) was held from Jan. 14 to 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The meeting aimed to bolster international collaboration in producing critical minerals essential for the global energy transition.