Nigeria and France Sign MOU to Boost Critical Minerals Development

Nigeria and France have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly develop initiatives aimed at enhancing and diversifying the critical minerals value chain in their respective solid minerals sectors. The agreement was formalized during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official visit to France.

The MOU focuses on collaboration in research, training, and student exchange programs to facilitate knowledge and skills transfer between the two nations. This partnership seeks to foster innovation and capacity-building in the mining and minerals industry.

A significant aspect of the agreement is the commitment to promoting sustainable mining practices. Both nations pledged to implement projects and programs that mitigate mining’s environmental impact, including reducing carbon emissions, minimizing water consumption, and addressing climate change challenges.

The partnership also includes plans to establish joint extraction and processing projects, co-financed by public and private entities. These initiatives aim to diversify the supply of critical minerals while supporting decarbonized energy solutions crucial to the value chain.

The MOU was signed by Dele Alake for Nigeria and Benjamin Gallezot, Inter-Ministerial Delegate for Critical Ores and Metals, for France.

Another notable feature of the agreement is its potential to address environmental concerns in Nigeria. The plan includes the remediation of over 2,000 abandoned mining pits through interventions in environmental rehabilitation and post-mining projects, creating opportunities for sustainable development in affected areas.