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The governments of Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the solid minerals sector, marking a significant step towards deepening economic collaboration between the two countries.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit (INRES) in Istanbul, Türkiye.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Nigeria’s Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said Nigeria is ready to leverage Türkiye’s technological advancement and expertise in mineral exploration, training, digitalisation, licensing systems and capacity building to accelerate reforms and growth in the sector.
According to the minister, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given full support to efforts to strengthen bilateral relations with Turkey in the mining and energy sectors.
“Turkey is one of the countries with which we are confident of building strong bilateral cooperation, especially in the area of solid mineral development. Nigeria is willing to work with the Turkish government to strengthen governance structures, improve technical capacity and promote sustainable mineral development in our country,” Alake said.
The minister, who is also the Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), noted that reforms introduced in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector over the past three years have transformed the operating environment and made the sector more attractive to real investors.
He explained that the Federal Government has implemented far-reaching measures to clean up the sector, improve ease of doing business and create incentives for foreign investors willing to establish long-term partnerships in Nigeria.
“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 to Nigeria,” he said.
Alake revealed that the reforms have already triggered an increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into the sector, while reassuring investors of the federal government’s commitment to safety and legal mining operations.
Highlighting ongoing enforcement efforts, the minister said the specially created Mining Marshals have stepped up the crackdown on illegal mining activities across the country.
“At last count, over 300 illegal mining operators, including foreign nationals, have been arrested, while more than 150 court cases are currently underway. Furthermore, over 100 illegal mining sites have been recovered and returned to rightful license owners as part of efforts to restore investor confidence and strengthen legal operations in the sector,” he said.
In response, Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, described the new partnership with Nigeria as strategic and timely, stressing that global energy security now requires stronger international cooperation and connectivity.
Bayraktar commended the Nigerian government for the reforms and initiatives already introduced in the solid minerals sector, stressing that Turkish companies are eager to invest in Nigeria.
“We are ready to invest in Nigeria thanks to the extraordinary initiatives put in place by your government. We look forward to the cooperation, support and guidance that will enable both countries to achieve significant results,” he said.
The Turkish minister further revealed that several Turkish manufacturers and industrial companies are interested in expanding operations in Nigeria beyond the mining sector, particularly in the energy and hydrocarbon sector.
“Nigeria is an important player in the hydrocarbon sector. We would appreciate it if you would convey to your President our desire to renew energy cooperation and contracts with Nigeria,” Bayraktar added.
He further noted that Turkey is strategically expanding its engagement with African markets, with Nigeria positioned as a key gateway to broader economic and energy partnerships across the continent.
Meanwhile, speaking during a session titled “Energy Security in a Changing Global Landscape: Connectivity and Cooperation”, Alake highlighted the urgent need for global peace and conflict reduction as critical conditions for achieving sustainable energy security.
“Without reducing conflicts around the world, economic imperatives and global energy security efforts will continue to face significant challenges. Without peace, discussions on energy security become difficult. The international community must work seriously towards peace if we are to truly ensure sustainable energy security for the future,” the minister said.
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