Nigeria, South Africa sign pact on mining development

*Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development ink a Memorandum of Understanding with South Africa to solidify the partnership fostered through the recently inaugurated Nigeria–South Africa Bi-National Commission

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Ministers of Solid Minerals of Nigeria and South Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), outlining key areas of cooperation with implementation timelines.

The Nigerian Government through the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) said the pact sealed in a bid to solidify the partnership fostered through the Nigeria–South Africa Bi-National Commission, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa inaugurated recently.

Segun Tomori, Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, who disclosed this in a statement Wednesday, April 16, 2025, said during a bilateral meeting in his office, in Abuja, FCT, Dr. Oladele Alake, Honourable Minister for Solid Minerals Development, hosted South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, H.E. Gwede Mantashe.

The statement noted that Dr. Alake described the engagement as a milestone in deepening bilateral relations, especially in the vital mining sector of the Nigerian economy.

Reflecting on the historical ties between the two countries, the Minister noted the longstanding diplomatic and economic cooperation built on mutual respect and a shared vision for Africa’s development.

He also emphasised that collaboration in the mining sector offers vast opportunities for industrialisation, job creation, and sustainable growth across the continent.

Tomori quoted Alake to have said: “The Memorandum of Understanding in geology, mining, and mineral processing signed today will serve as a cornerstone for facilitating knowledge and technology transfer, investment promotion, capacity building, regional integration, and value addition.”

The Minister highlighted the components of the MoU to include:

• Capacity building in geological applications using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
• Utilisation of Multi- and Hyper-spectral Remote Sensing Technologies for mineral exploration and geological mapping
• Sharing of geoscientific data on strategic minerals through the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA)
• Training on mineral processing and value addition
• Capacity Building on Elemental Fingerprint Technology using LA-ICP-MS
• Exploration of Agro and Energy Minerals In Nigeria

Besides, Dr. Alake emphasised Nigeria’s renewed focus on developing its mining industry.

The Minister disclosed that South Africa could benefit from Nigeria’s vast mineral wealth, while Nigeria could tap into South Africa’s advanced mining expertise.

According to him, this synergy would open doors to investment, skills development, and economic diversification in the economy.

In his remarks during the meeting, H.E. Gwede Mantashe affirmed that South Africa—where mining plays a central role in the economy—stands to gain from Nigeria’s revitalised interest in the sector.

Mantashe said his visit to Abuja aimed to fine-tune agreements from the Bi-National Commission, in order to deepen collaboration on mutually beneficial projects with Nigeria’s Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

Both Ministers committed to sustained engagement and collaboration to boost intra-African trade and deliver on the actionable steps outlined in the MoU, the statement noted.

The duo further expressed confidence that their renewed partnership would significantly enhance the mining sectors of both countries.

In attendance at the MoU signing were the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Steel Development, Dr. Chris Isokpunwu; alongside senior officials from both solid minerals and steel development ministries and members of the South African delegation led by H.E. Gwede Mantashe, the statement added.

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