The Nigerian Presidency has dismissed claims circulating on social media suggesting that France is taking over Nigeria’s mining sector, solid minerals, or security rights.
This clarification follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent state visit to France, during which both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on joint projects aimed at advancing and diversifying the critical minerals value chains within the solid minerals sector.
The MoU, however, led to online speculations that France intended to assume control over Niger’s mining rights.
In a statement issued on X on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, addressed these rumours.
He emphasized that Nigeria had not ceded any mining rights to France.
In the statement titled “The Facts: Nigeria-France MoU on Critical Minerals,” Dare confirmed that the agreement primarily focused on fostering cooperation in research, training, and Franco-Nigerian student exchanges to facilitate knowledge and skills transfer.
He clarified, “The French are not Taking Over. Nowhere in the document was it agreed or suggested that Nigeria has signed away Mining Rights to the French, nor does it connote anything against Nigeria’s Economic and Security interest as being maliciously circulated.”
The statement further outlined that the MoU involved joint efforts to promote and diversify the critical minerals value chain in both countries, covering essential minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements vital for clean energy technologies.
Dare elaborated that a major component of the MoU was the promotion of sustainable mining practices, which include executing projects that reduce the environmental impact of mining activities, particularly concerning carbon emissions, water consumption, and climate change.
The MoU also calls for the creation of joint extractive and processing projects, which will be co-financed by both public and private sectors, to diversify and secure the supply of critical minerals necessary for decarbonizing energy projects linked to the value chain.
Additionally, both nations agreed to collaborate in improving the lives of local communities affected by mining.
“Both agreed to adopt international best practices in the execution of programmes and projects to improve the conditions of the local populace affected by mining and ensure transparency,” Dare stated.
The MoU is also expected to provide new opportunities for remediating over 2,000 abandoned mining pits in Nigeria, with plans to focus on environmental rehabilitation and post-mining initiatives.
Furthermore, the agreement will foster capacity-building through bilateral and multilateral training, seminars, and events, aimed at enhancing the management of the critical metals sector’s value chain.
