The federal government and the United states government have signed an agreement which allows both countries to collaborate on geological data and exploration, mineral development and processing, infrastructure, and technical capacity.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly between the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and the US Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, at the Nigerian Mission House in New York, United States, US.
Also present at the signing are the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Yusuf Yabo, Director-General, Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, Simon Nkom, among others.
US offcials present at the event include the Deputy Assistant Secretary for West African Affairs, Rich Michael, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southern Africa, Foreign Assistance and Critical Minerals, Chris Kulukund.
The agreement, according tothe details provided by the federal government,is expected to boost the development of Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Sector, will also open opportuntities for the US and Nigeria to collaborate in the areas infrastructure, geological data and exploration,mineraldevelopment in the mining sector.
Alake while speaking said the two countries shared the sameconcition that Nigeria’s mining suply chains requires investement, resilience and secure, noting however,that Nigeria wil not persistently remain a source of raw materials for other countries, but is searching for opportunities that will create jobs for in the country, through skill acquisition and local processing.
“But let me be clear about Nigeria’s ambition. We are not here to remain a source of raw material for the value that others create. Our goal is to turn potential into lasting value at home through stronger local processing, new skills, quality jobs, and new opportunities for Nigerian businesses,”Alake said.
He noted that the agreeent was part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu economic diversification agenda.
The Minister also stated that the implementation will achieve the economic diversification goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and boost industrial growth.
On his part, the Deputy Secretary of State Landau stated that as Africa’s fastest econoomy,Nigeria needs economic partnershipwith the US, adding that the agreement will bring shared prosperity to both countries, noting that under President Donald Trump Nigeria and US have partnered in so many areas, hoping that that both countries will build on the momentum.
“Under President Trump and President Tinubu’s leadership, the United States and Nigeria have done many things together in the last one and a half years that we’ve never done before. I think we would like to keep building on that momentum”, Landau said.
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