The minister of solid minerals development, Dr Dele Alake, has called on investors worldwide to use Nigeria’s geo-data digital platforms to access information on the country’s rich mineral resources.
Alake made this call while addressing chief executives of global mining conglomerates at the annual Mines & Money Conference, which is being held at the Business Design Centre in Islington, United Kingdom.
According to a statement by the minister’s special adviser, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, made available to journalists yesterday in Abuja, Alake said Nigeria adopted digital technology to market minerals to ease business enquiries and promote transparent transactions.
He listed three web platforms – Nigerian Mineral Decision Support System, NMRDSS, Electronic Mining Cadastral, EMC+, and National Geo-Data Centre – as key information resources for serious investors.
Alake described the NMRDSS as a web application that provides read-only access to geo-scientific and geo-economic data and allows users to analyse mineral occurrence locations and make informed decisions regarding mining activities.
He said, “By providing publicly available data about the geology and mineral wealth of Nigeria, this dynamic resource, updated regularly to make the data as current as possible, enables the investor to explore the environment of the Mineral occurrences of choice. It answers queries of hydrology, demography, geography, urban planning, and transportation.”
Explaining the EMC+, the minister said the online, real-time system for administering mineral titles throughout their life cycles is efficient and transparent.
“This means investors can research and plan their application for titles remotely as far as they have the data required as inputs in the application process,” he noted.
Alake told the mining business leaders that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was committed to acquiring more geological data to improve the value of the platforms.
He also announced that the administration plans to fund more geological research and leverage the results of research by private and public institutions to build more data.
On certifying the quality of the data, Alake, who doubles as the chairman of Africa Minerals Strategy Group, a body composed of African mining ministers, saluted the efforts of geoscientists in Africa to develop a new coding system to certify research reports.
He stressed the need for value addition and beneficiation in the downstream segment of the mining value chain, stating that recent exploration has positioned Nigeria as a key player in the supply of critical minerals to the world.
“The deliberate investment in accurate geoscientific data, particularly for critical minerals such as lithium and rare earth minerals, has positioned Nigeria as a key player in the global transition to a green economy. This transition aligns with our commitment to sustainability and our role in the global fight against climate change,” he said.
He urged major mining companies to partner with the President Tinubu administration to diversify the economy in favour of the solid minerals sector, adding that the collaboration would unlock the country’s vast mineral resources.
He ended his address with a strong pitch to the top decision-makers of the global mining sector: “The future of Nigeria’s solid minerals is brimming with promise…Our doors are open to partnerships, and we invite you to join us on this transformative journey.”
The event’s chief executives include Barrick’s president and chief executive Mark Bristow, Traxys’s chief executive officer Mark Kristoff, and Anglo American’s general counsel Kate Southwell.
The statement also noted that Alake had earlier engaged investors who were making enquiries about mining at the Ministry’s exhibition booth.