The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has revealed that Chinese investments in Nigeria’s lithium processing sector have reached a total of $1.3 billion.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, Dr. Alake made the disclosure while speaking at the China Mining Conference held in Tianjin, themed “Connect and Collaborate, Co-Build and Co-Share.”
The Minister used the opportunity to encourage more Chinese investors to expand their stakes in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, citing the government’s ongoing reforms aimed at ensuring higher returns on investment.
According to the statement, Dr. Alake impressed participants with Nigeria’s recent security and technological reforms, highlighting initiatives such as the Mining Marshals and the satellite mine-monitoring project, both designed to safeguard licensed miners and curb illegal mining activities.
Reviewing the growing Chinese presence in Nigeria’s mining industry, the Minister stated that investments in lithium processing alone have grossed $1.3 billion since September 2023. He added that several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to China in September 2024 have resulted in significant new investment commitments.
Dr. Alake said, “Since September 2023, when this administration came into office, Chinese companies such as Canmax Technology, Jiuling Lithium, Avatar New Energy Nigeria Company, and Asba have collectively invested more than $1.3 billion in lithium processing.”
He further noted that these investments have boosted Nigeria’s efforts toward economic diversification, reduced the country’s dependence on oil, and attracted infrastructure, technology transfer, and technical expertise. According to him, joint ventures between Nigerian and Chinese firms have enhanced local skills and capacities among Nigerian engineers and workers.
The Minister also outlined several technological upgrades aimed at transforming the mining sector, including the Electronic Mining Cadastre (EMC+), the Nigerian Mineral Resources Decision System (NMRDS), and the Centre of Excellence, all of which streamline business operations and enable remote transactions for global investors.
As the Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), Dr. Alake reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to promoting regional cooperation in mineral exploration and data reporting, emphasizing the importance of building shared systems of knowledge and governance across Africa.
He said, “We warmly invite investors, development partners, and technical institutions to explore Nigeria’s vast opportunities in minerals such as lithium, gold, lead-zinc, barite, and rare earth elements. Our government has created a conducive environment, strengthened tenure security, and introduced incentives that ensure mutual benefit.”
Nigeria’s long-term vision, he added, “is not just to extract minerals but to develop a globally competitive value chain that supports the clean energy transition, job creation, and industrial growth — all within the framework of responsible mining.”
Representing Nigeria at a technical session on “Mining in Africa and Policy,” the Director-General of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Prof. Olusegun Omoniyi Ige, highlighted the country’s National Mineral Resources Data System (NMRDS) and extensive aeromagnetic and geochemical datasets, which provide a strong basis for informed mineral exploration.
Prof. Ige noted that while these resources have significantly improved geological understanding, more investment is needed to expand exploration coverage and convert geological data into proven mineral assets.
Other key speakers at the conference included Mr. Xu Xueyi, Deputy Director-General of the China Geological Survey; H.E. Mohamed Ahmed Taha, Minister of Minerals of Sudan; Ms. Phumzile Mgcina, Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources of South Africa; and Mr. Joseph Lebbie, Director-General of Geological Exploration, Sierra Leone.
