Officials from the Commonwealth Secretariat engaged in discussions with a Nigerian delegation led by Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake, during a recent courtesy visit. The focal point of the meeting was the promising potential for profitable deep sea mining in Nigeria’s coastal waters.
Dr. Alake, emphasizing the role of the solid minerals sector in Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts, expressed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recognition of it as a pivotal component. The minister outlined a Seven-point Agenda, including initiatives like establishing a solid minerals company, collecting Big Data on mineral reserves, enhancing security for mines, and fostering socio-economic development in mining communities through effective community development agreements.
President Tinubu’s commitment to economic diversification prompted the delegation’s request to discuss mineral development matters with the Commonwealth. Dr. Alake urged the institution, leveraging its extensive expertise, to support Nigeria’s endeavors in this sector.
Nigeria, a former British colony and a member of the 54-member Commonwealth, stands to explore profitable opportunities in the extraction of deep-sea minerals. The Senior Director of the Trade, Oceans, and Natural Resources Department at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Paul Kautoke, commended the visit and highlighted the potential for Nigeria to extract minerals such as copper, cobalt, nickel, gold, and rare earth elements from its coastal waters.
Kautoke acknowledged the advancements made by Commonwealth countries in the Pacific region in deep sea mining, pledging the institution’s support in crafting a policy for Nigeria. Other Commonwealth representatives, including Victor Kitange, Opeyemi Abebe, Daniel Wilder, and Allison Swaddling, underscored progress in deep sea mining globally while expressing concerns about African countries lagging behind.
Swaddling mentioned online training programs developed by the department, and Abebe, drawing on experience with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, offered assistance to bolster Nigeria’s capabilities in deep sea mining.
In response, Minister Alake acknowledged the discussions’ significance, noting a new dimension to mineral development. He assured that the ministry would collaborate with other relevant ministries to thoroughly examine the prospects of deep sea mining, intending to formulate a comprehensive country proposal for further consideration.
