Nigeria has reaffirmed its readiness to leverage Canada’s advanced mining technology and expertise to strengthen ongoing reforms in the nation’s solid minerals sector.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, made the commitment during a meeting with the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E. Pasquale Salvaggio, at his office in Abuja. In a press release signed by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Alake emphasized the importance of enhanced bilateral collaboration to accelerate growth, attract investment, and entrench global best practices in mining.
Reflecting on history, the Minister recalled Canada’s principled support for Nigeria during the pro-democracy struggle that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. He noted that Canada’s firm stance galvanized international backing for democratic restoration, culminating in the return to civil rule in 1999.
“Canada stood firmly on the side of the Nigerian people during our pro-democracy struggle. The cooperation we enjoyed from the Canadian High Commission was exemplary and deeply encouraging. We regarded Canada as an archetypal pro-democracy ally. 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 stated.
The Minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to partnering with Canada to de-risk the mining environment, attract foreign direct investment, enhance capacity building for mining professionals, formalize and regulate artisanal mining, and promote technology transfer to support rapid sectoral development. He highlighted incentives such as tax waivers on imported mining equipment and full repatriation of profits after meeting statutory obligations, designed to create an investor-friendly climate.
Ambassador Salvaggio commended Nigeria’s acknowledgment of Canada’s historic role in its democratic journey and praised the Minister for recognizing Canada’s leadership in the global mining industry. He noted that Nigeria remains Canada’s second-largest trading partner in Africa and expressed confidence that Nigeria could become Canada’s largest trading partner on the continent within the next decade.
He lauded the establishment of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company (NSMC), describing it as a strategic initiative capable of boosting investor confidence and catalyzing growth. Salvaggio also emphasized Canada’s readiness to expand capacity-building initiatives, including replicating the 2025 training programme for Nigerian mining professionals at the University of Calgary, alongside additional technical exchange programmes.
In response, Alake acknowledged that while the stalled Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) predates the current administration, the Federal Government is prepared to review and expedite its ratification. He reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to attracting increased foreign direct investment as a pathway to economic growth and job creation.
Both countries agreed to establish a joint working group to identify priority areas of cooperation within the mining sector and develop actionable timelines to ensure tangible outcomes from the renewed bilateral engagement.
By Palma Ileye, Abuja
