Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance bilateral cooperation in the solid minerals sector, in a bid to deepen economic ties between both countries.

The agreement was concluded on the sidelines of the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit in Türkiye, according to a statement released by the Federal Government on Monday.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said Nigeria is prepared to tap into Türkiye’s technical expertise in mining exploration, training, digitisation, licensing systems, and capacity building to accelerate reforms and drive growth in the sector.

The minister said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fully endorsed efforts to strengthen bilateral relations with Türkiye, particularly 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. Nigeria is open to working with the Turkish government to strengthen governance structures, improve technical capacity, and advance sustainable mining development in our country,” Alake stated.

The minister, who also chairs the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, said reforms carried out in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector over the past three years have improved the operating environment and made it more attractive to investors.

He added that the Federal Government has introduced reforms to sanitise the sector, improve the ease of doing business, and provide incentives for foreign investors interested in building long-term partnerships in Nigeria.

“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 said.

Alake said the reforms have already led to an increase in foreign direct investment into the sector, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring security and promoting lawful mining operations.

He also highlighted enforcement efforts, noting that specially established Mining Marshals have stepped up operations to curb illegal mining activities across the country.

“As of the latest count, over 300 illegal mining operators, including foreign nationals, have been arrested, while more than 150 prosecutions are currently ongoing. In addition, over 100 illegal mining sites have been recovered and returned to legitimate licence owners as part of efforts to restore investor confidence and strengthen lawful operations in the sector,” he stated.

Responding, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, described the partnership as strategic and timely, noting that global energy security increasingly depends on stronger international cooperation.

He commended the Nigerian government’s reforms in the solid minerals sector and added that Turkish companies are prepared to invest in Nigeria.

“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 to achieve meaningful results,” he said.

The Turkish minister also revealed that several Turkish industrial manufacturers are interested in expanding their operations into Nigeria beyond mining, particularly in the energy and hydrocarbons sectors.

“Nigeria is a major player in the hydrocarbon industry. We would appreciate it if you convey to your President our desire to renew energy cooperation and contracts with Nigeria,” Bayraktar added.