Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the solid minerals sector and expanding economic collaboration between both countries.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit held in Istanbul.

Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the partnership would enable Nigeria to benefit from Türkiye’s expertise in mining exploration, digitisation, licensing systems, training and capacity building.

According to Alake, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fully backed efforts to strengthen ties between both nations in the mining and energy sectors.

“Türkiye is one of the countries we are confident of building strong bilateral cooperation with, particularly in the area of solid minerals development,” the minister said.

He noted that reforms introduced in Nigeria’s mining sector over the last three years had improved the investment climate and attracted more credible investors into the industry.

Alake explained that the Federal Government had introduced measures aimed at sanitising the sector, improving ease of doing business and creating incentives capable of attracting long-term foreign investment.

“We have significantly improved the ease of doing business and strengthened institutional support for investors. Investors can now repatriate profits after due process, while government incentives have continued to attract serious mining stakeholders into Nigeria,” he stated.

The minister also disclosed that the government had intensified efforts against illegal mining, revealing that over 300 illegal operators, including foreign nationals, had been arrested, while more than 150 prosecutions were ongoing nationwide.

He added that over 100 illegal mining sites had been recovered and returned to legitimate licence holders as part of efforts to restore investor confidence in the sector.

Responding, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, described the partnership with Nigeria as strategic and expressed the readiness of Turkish companies to invest in Nigeria’s mining sector.

“We are ready to invest in Nigeria because of the remarkable initiatives your government has put in place. We look forward to cooperation, support, and guidance that will enable both countries achieve meaningful results,” Bayraktar said.

The Turkish minister also disclosed that several Turkish firms were interested in expanding into Nigeria’s energy and hydrocarbon sectors, describing Nigeria as a key player in the global hydrocarbon industry.

During a panel session titled Energy Security in a Shifting Global Landscape: Connectivity and Cooperation, Alake stressed that global peace and stability remained critical to achieving sustainable energy security worldwide.

“Without reducing conflicts around the world, economic imperatives and global energy security efforts will continue to face significant challenges,” the minister stated.