Nigeria and France Sign MOU to Jointly Develop Critical Minerals
Agreement Aims to Attract Investments, Boost Mining Sector Competitiveness
Nigeria and France have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly develop and diversify critical minerals in both countries. The agreement was signed during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official visit to France.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, signed for Nigeria, while the Inter-Ministerial delegate for Critical Ores and Metals of the Republic of France, Benjamin Gallezot, signed on behalf of France.
Alake described the agreement as a major step towards attracting international investments and repositioning Nigeria’s mining sector for global competitiveness.
The partnership will focus on key minerals such as copper, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements, which are essential to clean energy technologies. The agreement aims to promote sustainable mining practices, reduce the environmental impact of mining, and decarbonize energy projects linked to the mineral value chain.
Both countries have also committed to co-financing joint extraction and processing initiatives through public and private entities to secure mineral supplies.
The MOU includes provisions for research collaborations, knowledge exchange, and capacity building through Franco-Nigerian student training programs. It also outlines plans for environmental rehabilitation, including interventions in over 2,000 abandoned mining sites in Nigeria.
