The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has disclosed that Chinese companies have invested more than 1.3 billion U.S. dollars in lithium processing projects across Nigeria.
Alake made this known at the 2025 China Mining Conference in Tianjin, themed “Connect and Collaborate, Co-Build and Co-Share.” The information was contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori.
According to the minister, the investments have been made by companies such as Canmax Technology, Jiuling Lithium, Avatar New Energy Nigeria Company and Asba since President Bola Tinubu’s administration assumed office in September 2023.
“These investments have boosted Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts, reduced reliance on oil, and brought in infrastructure, technology transfer and technical expertise,” Alake said.
He added that partnerships between Chinese and Nigerian mining firms have improved local technical capacity and skills among Nigerian engineers and workers.
Reforms and Improved Security Framework
Alake urged global investors to increase participation in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, highlighting the government’s recent reforms aimed at boosting investor confidence and returns.
He outlined security measures introduced to protect mining operations, including the deployment of Mining Marshals and satellite monitoring systems to combat illegal mining and safeguard licensed operators.
The minister also emphasised that the government has upgraded technology platforms to facilitate ease of doing business. These include the Electronic Mining Cadastre (eMC+) for processing mining licences and the Nigerian Mineral Resources Decision System (NMRDS) for accessing mineral data and managing remote transactions.
Strengthening Continental Partnerships
As chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), Alake reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening regional cooperation in mineral governance, exploration and reporting standards.
He said efforts were underway to enhance regional Centres of Excellence in Geosciences and Mining Skills and to expand the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) to support early-stage exploration and reduce investment risks.
“Africa must build shared systems of knowledge and governance to fully benefit from its vast mineral resources,” he added.
Vision for a Sustainable Mineral Value Chain
Alake reiterated that Nigeria is committed not only to mineral extraction but also to developing a globally competitive value chain.
“Our vision is to support clean energy transition, create jobs and drive industrial growth—while upholding responsible and sustainable mining practices,” he said.
He extended an open invitation to investors, development partners and technical institutions to explore opportunities in lithium, gold, lead-zinc, barite and rare earth minerals, noting that Nigeria offers a conducive investment climate, improved security of tenure and mutually beneficial incentives.
