Nigeria Warned of Future Mineral Import Risks by Experts

On Monday, exploration geophysicists in Nigeria raised alarms that the country might eventually need to import minerals it currently extracts and exports unless strategic deposits are conserved. This warning coincided with remarks from Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, who stated that the Federal Government is enhancing geoscientific data and mineral exploration to bolster the mining sector's role in economic diversification.

At the 4th Annual International Conference and Training Workshop in Abuja, the Nigerian Association of Exploration Geophysicists stressed the importance of a national conservation policy to protect high-grade mineral deposits for future generations. Alake, represented by Hadiza Godi from the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, described geophysics as essential for discovering underground wealth and supporting sustainable development.

He highlighted the government's commitment to generating reliable geological data to attract investment, noting the identification of critical minerals such as lithium and copper through targeted surveys.