The Presidency has dismissed circulating rumours on social media suggesting that France is taking control of Nigeria’s mining sector.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, clarified that Nigeria did not relinquish its mining rights during President Bola Tinubu’s recent state visit to France.
This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries aimed at developing joint projects to promote and diversify the critical minerals value chains in the solid minerals sector.
Dare explained that the MOU focuses on promoting sustainable mining practices, reducing environmental impacts, and establishing joint extractive and processing projects.
He emphasized that the agreement did not involve any transfer of Nigeria’s mining rights to France, nor did it pose a threat to Nigeria’s economic or security interests, contrary to online speculations, according to Politics Nigeria.
The agreement, according to Dare, is centered on collaboration between the two nations to develop critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements, which are vital for clean energy technologies. The MOU also covers areas such as research, training, and student exchanges to foster knowledge and skills transfer between Nigeria and France.
A key component of the agreement includes the promotion of sustainable mining, with a focus on projects that reduce carbon emissions, water consumption, and climate change impacts. The MOU also aims to establish joint extractive and processing projects, with co-financing from both public and private sectors, to secure and diversify the supply of critical minerals and decarbonize energy projects essential to the global value chain.
Both nations have agreed to adhere to international best practices in executing the MOU’s projects, ensuring transparency and improving the conditions of local communities affected by mining. One of the initiatives under the agreement is the remediation of over 2,000 abandoned mining pits in Nigeria, focusing on environmental rehabilitation and post-mining projects.
Dare further highlighted that the MOU would also provide opportunities for capacity building in the mining sector through regular bilateral and multilateral training, seminars, and events, aimed at improving the management of the sector’s value chain.
Dare said, “The French are not Taking Over. Nowhere in the document was it agreed or suggested that Nigeria has signed away Mining Rights to the French, nor does it connote anything against Nigeria’s Economic and Security interest as being maliciously circulated.
“Nigeria and France have agreed to develop joint projects to promote and diversify the critical minerals value chain In the solid minerals sector of both countries. Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements are essential to clean energy technologies.
“In the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both countries on the sidelines of the official visit to France by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently, both countries agreed to collaborate on research, training and Franco-Nigerian students exchanges for knowledge and skills transfer.
“A key component of the Memorandum of Understanding is the promotion of sustainable mining activities by executing projects and programmes which reduce the environmental impact of mining on carbon emissions, water consumption and climate change.
“It also includes the establishment of joint extractive and processing projects through co-financing by public and private entities to diversify and secure the supply of critical minerals and decarbonise energy projects critical to the value chain.”
“Both agreed to adopt international best practices in the execution of programmes and projects to improve the conditions of the local populace affected by mining and ensure transparency.
“The MOU is expected to open new opportunities for the remediation of over 2,000 abandoned pits in the country through its plan to intervene in environmental rehabilitation and post-mining projects.
“Through regular bilateral and multilateral training, seminars and events, administrators of institutions in the critical Metals sector are expected to improve their capacity to manage the sector’s value chain,” he added.
