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Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the solid minerals sector, as both countries move to deepen economic and energy partnerships.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit (INRES) in Istanbul, Türkiye, with officials from both countries describing the pact as a strategic step towards expanding collaboration in mining, energy and industrial development.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the partnership would enable Nigeria to leverage Türkiye’s technological expertise in mining exploration, digitisation, licensing systems, capacity building and technical training.
According to him, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has prioritised stronger bilateral engagement with Türkiye, particularly in the mining and energy sectors.
“Türkiye is one of the countries we are confident of building strong bilateral cooperation with, particularly in the area of solid minerals development,” Alake said.
He noted that reforms introduced in Nigeria’s mining sector over the last three years had improved the investment climate and enhanced investor confidence.
The minister explained that government measures aimed at sanitising the sector, improving ease of doing business and strengthening regulatory frameworks were already attracting genuine foreign investors.
“We have significantly improved the ease of doing business and strengthened institutional support for investors. Investors can now repatriate profits after due process, while government incentives have continued to attract serious mining stakeholders into Nigeria,” he stated.
Alake disclosed that the reforms had triggered increased inflows of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the sector, while ongoing enforcement against illegal mining activities was helping to restore confidence among legitimate operators.
He said the Mining Marshals established by the Federal Government had intensified operations against illegal mining nationwide.
“As of the latest count, over 300 illegal mining operators, including foreign nationals, have been arrested, while more than 150 prosecutions are currently ongoing. In addition, over 100 illegal mining sites have been recovered and returned to legitimate licence owners,” he said.
The minister, who also chairs the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, further stressed the importance of global peace and stability in achieving sustainable energy security.
Speaking during a panel session on “Energy Security in a Shifting Global Landscape: Connectivity and Cooperation,” Alake argued that persistent global conflicts continue to threaten international energy goals.
“Without reducing conflicts around the world, economic imperatives and global energy security efforts will continue to face significant challenges,” he said.
In his remarks, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, described the agreement with Nigeria as both strategic and timely.
Bayraktar commended Nigeria’s ongoing reforms in the solid minerals sector and expressed the readiness of Turkish companies to invest in the country.
“We are ready to invest in Nigeria because of the remarkable initiatives your government has put in place,” he said.
He also disclosed that Turkish firms were looking beyond mining to opportunities in Nigeria’s energy and hydrocarbon sectors, while describing Nigeria as a strategic gateway to African markets.
