The Presidency has dismissed rumors that France is taking over Nigeria’s mining sector, solid minerals, or security rights, following speculation on social media.
During President Bola Tinubu’s recent state visit to France, Nigeria and France signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on joint projects aimed at promoting and diversifying both countries’ critical minerals value chains within the solid minerals sector.
However, the MOU sparked online speculation that France was planning to take control of Nigeria’s mining sector and solid minerals.
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, clarified that Nigeria had not signed away its mining rights.
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In the statement titled “The Facts: Nigeria-France MOU on Critical Minerals,” Dare explained that both countries had agreed to collaborate on research, training, and Franco-Nigerian student exchanges to facilitate knowledge and skills transfer.
The former Minister of Sports and Youth Development further emphasized that Nigeria would adhere to international standards upon which such Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are founded.
He wrote, “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.
“Nigeria and France have agreed to develop joint projects to promote and diversify the critical minerals value chain In the solid minerals sector of both countries. Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements are essential to clean energy technologies.
“In the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both countries on the sidelines of the official visit to France by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently, both countries agreed to collaborate on research, training and Franco-Nigerian students exchanges for knowledge and skills transfer.
“A key component of the Memorandum of Understanding is the promotion of sustainable mining activities by executing projects and programmes which reduce the environmental impact of mining on carbon emissions, water consumption and climate change.
“It also includes the establishment of joint extractive and processing projects through co-financing by public and private entities to diversify and secure the supply of critical minerals and decarbonise energy projects critical to the value chain.”
Dare stated that both countries agreed to implement programs and projects aimed at improving the living conditions of local residents impacted by mining activities.
“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.
“The MOU is expected to open new opportunities for the remediation of over 2,000 abandoned pits in the country through its plan to intervene in environmental rehabilitation and post-mining projects.
“Through regular bilateral and multilateral training, seminars and events, administrators of institutions in the critical Metals sector are expected to improve their capacity to manage the sector’s value chain,” he added.
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