Federal Govt Seeks Canada’s Support to Deepen Mining Reforms

The federal government of Nigeria has expressed Nigeria’s readiness to leverage Canada’s advanced mining technology and expertise to strengthen ongoing reforms in the country’s mining sector.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, revealed this on Thursday while receiving the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, at his office in Abuja, according to a statement issued by his special assistant on Media, Segun Tomori.
The minister emphasised the need for enhanced bilateral collaboration to accelerate growth, attract investment and entrench global best practices in Nigeria’s mining industry.
He recalled Canada’s principled support for Nigeria during the pro-democracy struggle that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, noting that the country’s stance galvanised international backing for democratic restoration, which culminated in the return to civil rule in 1999.
“Canada stood firmly on the side of the Nigerian people during our pro-democracy struggle. The cooperation we enjoyed from the Canadian High Commission was exemplary and deeply encouraging. We regarded Canada as an archetypal pro-democracy ally.
“Today, we are committed to strengthening that relationship, particularly in mining and mineral development, where Canada’s global reputation for excellence is well established,” Alake said.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to partnering with Canada to de-risk the mining environment, attract foreign direct investment (FDI), enhance capacity building for mining professionals, formalise and regulate artisanal mining, and promote technology transfer to support rapid sectoral development.
Highlighting investment incentives, the minister listed tax waivers on imported mining equipment, full repatriation of profits after meeting statutory obligations such as taxes and royalties, and other fiscal measures designed to create an investor-friendly climate.
In his remarks, Ambassador Salvaggio thanked Nigeria for acknowledging Canada’s historic role in the country’s democratic journey and commended the minister for recognising Canada’s leadership in the global mining industry.
He observed that Nigeria remains Canada’s second-largest trading partner in Africa and noted significant potential to expand bilateral trade, particularly in the mining sector. The envoy also lauded the establishment of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company (NSMC), describing it as a strategic initiative capable of boosting investor confidence and catalysing sectoral growth.
“I am confident that Nigeria could become Canada’s largest trading partner in Africa within the next five to ten years, given its dynamism, entrepreneurial spirit and commercial outlook. Nigeria is currently the sixth-largest recipient of Canadian development cooperation globally, which underscores the depth of our partnership,” Salvaggio said.
He emphasised the High Commission’s readiness to facilitate increased Canadian investment in Nigeria and urged the minister to revisit the stalled Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), noting that its ratification would significantly enhance investor confidence and guarantee investment security.
The ambassador also conveyed Canada’s willingness to expand capacity-building initiatives, including replicating the 2025 training programme for Nigerian mining professionals at the University of Calgary in Alberta, alongside additional technical exchange programmes to deepen expertise in modern mining practices.
Responding, Alake acknowledged that although the FIPA predates the current administration, the federal government is prepared to review and expedite its ratification.
He reiterated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to attracting increased FDI as a pathway to economic growth and job creation for Nigeria’s growing youth population.
Both countries agreed to establish a joint working group to identify priority areas of cooperation in the mining sector and develop actionable timelines to ensure tangible outcomes from the renewed bilateral engagement.