Minister of Solid Mineral Development Dele Alake, has called for deeper ties with Canada to harness its cutting-edge mining technology and know-how, as the Federal Government pushes forward with reforms to its long-neglected sector.
Alake in a meeting with the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, stressed the need for bilateral collaboration to draw investment, embed global standards and turbocharge growth.
The Minister recalled Canada’s steadfast backing during Nigeria’s pro-democracy fight after the disputed 1993 presidential election annulment, which helped rally global support for a return to civilian rule in 1999.
“Canada stood firmly on the side of the Nigerian people,” Minister Alake said.
“We regarded Canada as an archetypal pro-democracy ally. Today, we are committed to strengthening that relationship, particularly in mining.”
Alake outlined incentives including tax waivers on imported equipment, full profit repatriation after taxes and royalties, and efforts to de-risk operations, formalise artisanal mining and build local capacity.
NewsQuest reports that the Federal Government aims to attract foreign direct investment amid President Bola Tinubu’s drive for economic revival and youth jobs.
Salvaggio welcomed the nod to Canada’s democratic solidarity and its mining prowess, noting Nigeria as Canada’s second-largest African trading partner. He praised the new Nigeria Solid Minerals Company (NSMC) as a game-changer for investor trust, and highlighted shared resource wealth and the Nigerian diaspora’s role in bilateral links.
“I am confident Nigeria could become Canada’s largest trading partner in Africa within five to 10 years,” Salvaggio said, citing Nigeria’s dynamism and its status as the sixth-largest recipient of Canadian aid worldwide.
The Commossioner pushed to revive the stalled Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), expand training—such as last year’s University of Calgary programme for Nigerian miners—and foster technical exchanges.
Alake responded positively, pledging Federal Government review to fast-track ratification.
Both countries agreed to form a joint working group to pinpoint mining priorities and set firm timelines for action.
