Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements, essential to clean energy technologies, are the focus of the partnership. The agreement is expected to unlock new opportunities for environmental restoration, including the remediation of over 2,000 abandoned mining pits across Nigeria.

According to a statement by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, the partnership aligns with efforts to address recent mining tragedies that claimed at least 65 lives due to pit collapses.

The MoU was signed during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to France, emphasizing research collaboration, training programs, and Franco-Nigerian student exchanges for knowledge and skills transfer. The agreement also outlines joint extractive and processing projects, co-financed by public and private entities, to secure critical mineral supplies and support clean energy initiatives.

Dr. Dele Alake, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while Mr. Benjamin Gallezot, Inter-Ministerial Delegate for Critical Ores and Metals, represented France. Both parties committed to international best practices to ensure transparency and improve the living conditions of communities affected by mining.

Dr. Alake described the agreement as a significant step toward repositioning Nigeria’s solid minerals sector for global competitiveness, adding that the partnership would attract French investors and enhance the nation’s economic development.

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The agreement aims to address challenges and opportunities linked with transitioning towards a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

The MoU, signed in Abuja, involved the National Council on Climate Change, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Dahiru Salisu, the Director General of the NCCC, praised the UN agencies for their support, emphasizing the project’s importance in safeguarding Nigeria’s economy and well-being. He stated, “This project is really dear to Nigeria because we asked if we had to do this transition, who is to fund this transition? We can be passionate about this and anything that sounds like a threat to our economy, welfare, and well-being, we will not take it lightly.”

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Emmanuel Oladipo, a consultant with the Centre for Climate Change and Development, highlighted the need for Nigeria to harness renewable energy sources like solar power to reduce reliance on fossil fuels without compromising economic stability. He emphasized, “A nation like Nigeria, which is consumed by fossil fuel utilization, has no choice but to follow the world to try to move its economy in a way and manner that will make less use of fossil fuel, but at the same time will not kill our economy.”

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Vanessa Phala, representing the ILO, affirmed the UN agencies’ commitment to supporting the project’s success through collaborative action. She stated, “The just transition is at the heart of ILO and we are doing everything possible, financially and technically, to support this process.”

The signing of this MoU underscores Nigeria’s commitment to environmental sustainability and addressing the challenges of climate change.

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The Sokoto State government has approved various contracts worth over twelve billion naira during the state executive council meeting on Wednesday.

Briefing newsmen following the fourth state executive council meeting since the beginning of this current administration, the state commissioner for information, Bello Sambo Danchadi, said the approval was in tandem with the current administration’s efforts to reposition the state.

Danchadi, flanked by his counterpart from the Ministry of Land and Housing, Nasiru Aliyu Dantaoho, and that of the Ministry of Commerce, Alhaji Haruna Abass Bashir, said the state government extended the replacement of generator-powered streetlights in the state to solar-powered lights on an additional twenty roads at the cost of £1,446,783,969 naira, and it is expected to be delivered within three months.

Also speaking, the state commissioner for land and housing, Nasiru Aliyu Dantsoho, said the council approved the provisions of infrastructure at the ongoing 500 housing estate at Kalambina along Wamakko town.

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He explained that the said infrastructure includes the provision of roads, water, drainage, schools, Mosques, Islamiya, and children’s playground at the cost of £7,799,215,413.73k, to ZBCC construction company.

He also explained that following the memorandum of understanding signed by the state government with a contractor handling the housing estate at Gidan Salanke, the council also approved the sum of £3.5 billion naira as a variation cost.

He said, “I am sure you all know the said housing estate was awarded by Aliyu Wamakko administration in 2014, after which the immediate past administration in the state council the contract.

“Following the MOU signed, the state government engaged with the contractor and, due to the high cost of materials in the country, has approved a variation cost to enable the contractor to deliver on the project,” he added.

SOURCE: TRIBUNE NG

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