Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office

I inaugurated the Nigeria-United States Committee on Strategic Cooperation in the Solid Minerals Sector in Abuja to advance our partnership with the United States and set the record straight on reports claiming Nigeria sold $700 billion worth of solid minerals to America. Let me be very clear. Nigeria has not sold its mineral assets. The agreement signed with the US is a government-to-government framework designed to connect American investors with Nigerian businesses. It is about attracting investment, sharing technology, expanding local processing and creating jobs. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, we are determined to move beyond an economy heavily dependent on oil. Our mineral resources must create greater value at home and deliver lasting benefits to Nigerians. That is why local processing is now a key requirement for investors seeking mineral titles. Our partnership with the US offers an opportunity to match Nigeria’s vast resources with the capital and technology needed to build a stronger mining industry. The progress we are seeing in mineral processing reflects this direction. I have charged the committee to approach this responsibility with diligence, identify viable investment opportunities and turn the agreement into measurable results that support President Tinubu’s $1 trillion economy target. Our focus is ensuring that Nigeria’s mineral wealth creates jobs, strengthens our economy and delivers real value to our people.

On Wednesday at the Nigeria Mission House in New York, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and I signed an agreement to deepen American investment in Nigeria’s mining sector. This is an important step in strengthening Nigeria-US cooperation around our mineral resources, valued at about $700 billion. The framework covers geological data and exploration, mineral development and processing, infrastructure, and technical capacity. Nigeria cannot remain a source of raw materials while others capture most of the value. We want more local processing, quality jobs, stronger skills and greater opportunities for Nigerian businesses. In the coming months, we will turn this framework into projects, investments and real results for our people. We will identify viable projects and build partnerships that create value for Nigerians and our US partners. This is how we turn our mineral wealth into lasting economic growth and advance the diversification goals of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

I am deeply saddened by the tragic mine collapse at the Al-Zaraa gold mine in West Kordofan, Sudan, which has reportedly claimed the lives of several artisanal miners, with others still missing. My thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the families who have lost loved ones and with the people of Sudan at this difficult time. I also stand with the families waiting anxiously for news of those still trapped and with those working to rescue them. This tragedy is a painful reminder of the dangers faced by artisanal miners across Africa. As Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, I call for urgent support for the rescue efforts and stronger measures to improve safety, training and oversight in artisanal mining across our continent. Beyond this immediate crisis, we must do more to make artisanal mining safer. No amount of gold is worth a human life. We remain committed to working towards a safer and more responsible mining sector across Africa.

It is with profound shock and deep sorrow that I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Mohammed Umaru Bago, and the entire people of the state over the tragic loss of lives among detained citizens in Minna. ​The loss of any life is a deeply painful occurrence, and a tragedy of this magnitude affects us all. During this solemn period of state mourning, my thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and the communities bearing the weight of this grief. I commend Governor Bago's swift administrative response in declaring a period of mourning and establishing an investigative framework to uncover the full circumstances of this unfortunate incident. A thorough, transparent, and independent inquiry is vital to ensure accountability and prevent any recurrence of such distress in our detention and correctional facilities. Given the allegation that the detained persons were arrested on suspicion of carrying out illegal mining, I have deployed a high-powered team of officials to Niger State to investigate the circumstances and ascertain the facts of the matter. The team will collaborate with other investigators to provide a comprehensive report on the incident. May the Almighty comfort the families affected and grant the souls of the departed eternal rest.