By: Rabi
The Ministers of Solid Minerals of Nigeria and South Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on intra Africa trade on mineral development.
This was a follow up of the Bi-National Commission inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu and President Cyril Ramaphosa last year.
During a bilateral meeting in Abuja, with the South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, H.E. Gwede Mantashe, and the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake outlining key areas of cooperation, with implementation timelines to solidify the partnership between the two nations.
He described the engagement as a milestone in deepening bilateral relations, especially in the vital mining sector.
Dr. Alake who reflected on the longstanding diplomatic and economic cooperation for Africa’s development stressed that collaboration in the mining sector offers vast opportunities for industrialization, job creation, and sustainable growth across the continent.
“The Memorandum of Understanding in geology, mining, and mineral processing signed today,” Alake stated, “will serve as a cornerstone for facilitating knowledge and technology transfer, investment promotion, capacity building, regional integration, and value addition.”
Key Highlights of the MoU Include:
“Capacity building in geological applications using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Utilization of Multi- and Hyper-spectral Remote Sensing Technologies for mineral exploration and geological mapping, Sharing of geoscientific data on strategic minerals through the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA)”.
The MOU highlights further:
“Training on mineral processing and value addition, Capacity Building on Elemental Fingerprint Technology using LA-ICP-MS, Exploration of Agro and Energy Minerals In Nigeria.
Dr. Alake emphasized Nigeria’s renewed focus on developing its mining industry, stating that South Africa could benefit from Nigeria’s vast mineral wealth, while Nigeria could tap into South Africa’s advanced mining expertise as the synergy, would open doors to investment, skills development, and economic diversification.
In his remarks, Mr Gwede Mantashe who affirmed that South Africa stands to gain from Nigeria’s revitalized interest in the sector noted that his visit was to fine-tune agreements from the Bi-National Commission and to deepen collaboration on mutually beneficial projects.
Both ministers committed to sustained engagement and collaboration to boost intra-African trade and deliver on the actionable steps outlined in the MoU.
The MoU signing was attended by the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Steel Development, Dr. Chris Isokpunwu; alongside senior officials from both solid minerals and steel development ministries and members of the South African delegation led by H.E. Gwede Mantashe.
