The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has revealed that Chinese investments in Nigeria’s lithium processing sector have reached $1.3 billion.
Alake made this known at the China Mining Conference in Tianjin, where he spoke on the theme “Connect and Collaborate, Co-Build and Co-Share.”
According to a statement by his media aide, Segun Tomori, the minister urged global investors to take advantage of Nigeria’s mining reforms, which have created a safer and more profitable environment for business.
Alake highlighted several security and operational reforms, including the Mining Marshals and the Satellite Mines Monitoring Project, aimed at protecting licensed miners and curbing illegal mining activities.
He said, “Since September 2023, when this administration assumed office, Chinese companies such as Canmax Technology, Jiuling Lithium, Avatar New Energy Nigeria Company, and Asba have invested over $1.3 billion in lithium processing.
“These investments have supported Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy, reduce dependence on oil, and promote infrastructure development, technology transfer, and skill acquisition.”
The minister noted that joint ventures between Chinese and Nigerian firms have boosted local capacity and provided training for Nigerian engineers and technicians.
He also spoke about the government’s technological upgrades in the mining sector, including the Electronic Mining Cadastre (EMC+), the Nigerian Mineral Resources Decision System (NMRDS), and the Centre of Excellence, all designed to simplify operations and attract global investors.
As Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), Alake reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to building strong continental partnerships in mineral exploration and governance.
He said Africa must create shared systems of knowledge and reporting standards to fully benefit from its vast mineral wealth.
Alake also reiterated the government’s plans to strengthen Centres of Excellence in Geosciences and Mining Skills, and expand the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) and the SMDF-AFC Facility to support early-stage exploration.
He invited investors to explore Nigeria’s opportunities in minerals such as lithium, gold, lead-zinc, barite, and rare earth elements, assuring them of an enabling environment and secure investment terms.
“Nigeria’s goal is not just to extract minerals but to build a globally competitive value chain that supports clean energy transition, job creation, and industrial growth through responsible mining,” he stated.
Representing Nigeria at the technical session on “Mining in Africa and Policy,” the Director-General of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Prof. Olusegun Omoniyi Ige, highlighted the National Mineral Resources Data System (NMRDS) and Nigeria’s extensive geological datasets, which provide a foundation for informed mineral exploration.
Prof. Ige noted that while the datasets have enhanced understanding of Nigeria’s geology, more investments are needed to expand exploration and convert data into proven mineral resources.
Other speakers at the conference included Mr. Xu Xueyi, Deputy Director-General of the China Geological Survey; H.E. Mohamed Ahmed Taha, Sudan’s Minister of Minerals; Ms. Phumzile Mgcina, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources; and Mr. Joseph Lebbie, Director-General of Geological Exploration, Sierra Leone.
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