Nigeria, US to Sign Mining Cooperation Deal at UNGA

Nigeria and the United States are preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on mining cooperation during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. This initiative follows a meeting between Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, and Keith Heffern, the US Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, in Abuja.

The discussions were a continuation of earlier high-level engagements in Washington, D.C., where Alake led a delegation from the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company to meet with David Copley, Special Assistant to the US President. The focus of these engagements is to enhance cooperation across the critical minerals value chain, including geological exploration, mining, processing, and refining.

Alake informed the US delegation about ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s mining sector, including the digitization of geological data to attract investors. He also discussed the constitutional framework for mining regulation and the roles of the Federal and state governments, noting that states can establish Special Purpose Vehicles for mineral resource exploitation.

Several states have already obtained licenses under this arrangement.