Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has disclosed that Chinese investments in the country’s lithium processing sector have reached $1.3 billion, underscoring growing international confidence in Nigeria’s mining reforms.
According to a statement issued by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Alake made the disclosure during the China Mining Conference in Tianjin, where he addressed delegates on the theme “Connect and Collaborate, Co-Build and Co-Share.”
Tomori said the Minister used the platform to woo more investors into Nigeria’s rapidly transforming solid minerals sector, highlighting policy and security reforms designed to ensure high returns and operational stability.
Alake, who impressed participants with Nigeria’s recent security interventions—including the deployment of the Mining Marshals and the satellite-based mines monitoring project—emphasized that these initiatives are already protecting licensed miners and curbing illegal mining activities nationwide.
Reviewing the progress of Chinese involvement, the Minister revealed that since September 2023, major Chinese companies such as Canmax Technology, Jiuling Lithium, Avatar New Energy Nigeria Company, and Asba have collectively invested over $1.3 billion in lithium processing plants across Nigeria.
“The investments have boosted Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts, reduced dependency on oil, and attracted infrastructure, technology transfer, and expertise,” Alake said. “Joint ventures between Chinese and Nigerian firms in the mining sector continue to enhance local capabilities and technical skills among Nigerian engineers and workers.”
He attributed the surge in foreign commitments to policy stability and strategic partnerships, noting that Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to China in September 2024 have translated into concrete investment outcomes.
Beyond investments, the Minister drew attention to the technological transformation of Nigeria’s mining administration, citing digital innovations such as the Electronic Mining Cadastre (EMC+), the Nigerian Mineral Resources Decision System (NMRDS), and the establishment of a Centre of Excellence, all of which now support remote transactions and global investor access.
As Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), Alake also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening continental cooperation in mineral exploration, data sharing, and governance standards, stressing that Africa must build a shared framework to fully harness its mineral wealth.
He further announced plans to expand regional Centres of Excellence in Geosciences and Mining Skills, while enhancing the capacity of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) and the SMDF-AFC Facility to support early-stage exploration and reduce investment risk.
“We warmly invite investors, development partners, and technical institutions to explore Nigeria’s vast opportunities in minerals such as lithium, gold, lead-zinc, barite, and rare earth elements,” Alake stated. “Our vision is not only to extract minerals but to develop a globally competitive value chain that drives clean energy transition, job creation, and sustainable industrial growth.”
Representing Nigeria at the technical session on “Mining in Africa and Policy,” the Director-General of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Prof. Olusegun Omoniyi Ige, showcased Nigeria’s National Mineral Resources Data System (NMRDS) and extensive aeromagnetic and geochemical datasets, which, he said, form a strong base for informed mineral exploration.
Ige, however, stressed the need for greater investment in exploration to expand geological coverage and convert existing data into proven mineral reserves.
Other notable speakers at the Tianjin conference included Mr. Xu Xueyi, Deputy Director-General of the China Geological Survey; H.E. Mohamed Ahmed Taha, Minister of Minerals of Sudan; Ms. Phumzile Mgcina, Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources of South Africa; and Mr. Joseph Lebbie, Director-General of Geological Exploration, Sierra Leone.