The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in the solid minerals sector, in a move aimed at deepening bilateral economic relations.
The agreement was concluded on the sidelines of the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit (INRES) in Türkiye.
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the partnership would leverage Türkiye’s expertise in mining exploration, digitisation, licensing systems, training, and capacity building to support reforms and accelerate growth in Nigeria’s mining sector.
He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has backed efforts to expand international cooperation in the mining and energy space, adding that Nigeria is committed to improving governance structures and creating a more investor-friendly environment.
According to him, ongoing reforms in the solid minerals sector have already attracted increased foreign direct investment, improved ease of doing business, and strengthened regulatory oversight.
He also highlighted enforcement efforts against illegal mining, including arrests, prosecutions, and recovery of mining sites as part of broader sector sanitisation measures.
On his part, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, described the partnership as strategic and timely, expressing Türkiye’s readiness to invest in Nigeria’s mining and energy sectors.
He added that Turkish companies are increasingly interested in expanding operations into Nigeria, while also seeking renewed cooperation in energy and hydrocarbons.
Both countries emphasized the importance of stronger global cooperation, stability, and investment-driven partnerships to support sustainable economic and energy development.
