The Federal Government and France have taken significant steps to deepen their partnership in the mining sector, building on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Paris last month.
The collaboration aims to promote critical minerals, enhance geological infrastructure, and improve mining practices in Nigeria. 
During a meeting on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, both nations outlined key initiatives, including upgrading Nigeria’s geological laboratories, providing advanced technological equipment, and funding geological data exploration for the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA).
These measures are expected to drive sustainable mining practices and enhance technology transfer.
Kehinde Bamigbetan, special adviser to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, stated, “The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, and France’s Interministerial Delegate for Strategic Minerals, Benjamin Gallezot, led discussions centered on aligning policies, sharing expertise, and fostering investments in Nigeria’s mining industry.”
The collaboration follows President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to France last year, during which both governments pledged to develop joint projects to diversify the critical minerals value chain.
The meeting also resolved to exchange information on mining laws to facilitate collaboration on cadastral management and combat illegal mining.
Speaking on the progress, Gallezot disclosed that his department is currently screening a list of French companies interested in investing in Nigeria’s mining sector.
He added that a final selection of credible investors would soon be forwarded to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
Dr. Dele Alake commended France’s commitment, noting, “The forum provides an opportunity to design policies and projects that will solidify cooperation and yield positive results.”
Discussions highlighted training, artisanal mining, geological exploration, and the urgent need for advanced technological equipment to accelerate mineral exploration in Nigeria.
Professor Olusegun Ige, Director-General of NGSA, stressed the importance of upgrading laboratories for accurate analysis of extracted rock samples.
“We need modern tools to analyze samples effectively and accelerate exploration,” he said.
Similarly, Simon Nkom, Director-General of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, emphasized comparing mining laws of both nations to identify best practices and improve ongoing reforms.
France’s geological agency, Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres, pledged to include Nigeria in its African geologists’ capacity-building program.
Christophe Poinssot, the agency’s deputy director, announced plans to upgrade Nigeria’s geological laboratories to meet international standards, noting,
“Nigeria will benefit from France’s program of empowering mining countries through laboratory upgrades and training.”
The meeting concluded with a resolution to develop a detailed implementation program, which will be reviewed during next month’s annual Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa.
