President Tinubu:Nigeria and South Africa have entered into an agreement aimed

Nigeria and South Africa have entered into an agreement aimed at enhancing collaboration in the mining sector, as announced by Nigeria's Minister of Mines on Thursday. This initiative underscores Abuja's commitment to diversifying its economy beyond oil dependency.

Minister Dele Alake stated that the partnership will involve joint efforts in mining activities, including the use of drones for geological mapping, sharing of mineral data, and collaborative exploration of agricultural and energy minerals within Nigeria.

In addition to oil, Nigeria possesses significant reserves of gold, limestone, lithium, iron ore, and zinc, with approximately 23 mineral deposits available in commercially viable quantities.

The country is working to revitalize a mining industry that has historically been underdeveloped, contributing less than 1% to its gross domestic product.

Alake emphasized that South Africa's well-established mining expertise makes it an invaluable ally in this endeavor.

"During my recent meeting with H.E. Gwede Mantashe, South Africa's Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, we formalized our collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that focuses on geology, mining, and mineral processing."

"This agreement will enable the transfer of knowledge and technology, encourage investment, and enhance capacity building. We have taken a significant step towards strengthening the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa with a renewed emphasis on the mining sector."

"This partnership has the potential to create jobs and foster economic diversification, ultimately contributing to growth across our continent."

"Together, we can accomplish extraordinary achievements for Africa's future," Alake shared on his verified Facebook page.

📸 Minister Dr. Dele Alake