Nigeria and the United States are working towards signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in the mining sector, with the agreement expected to be concluded on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The planned deal followed a meeting between the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and the US Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, Keith Heffern, in Abuja, the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye-Wise, said in a statement on Sunday.

The meeting built on a high-level engagement in Washington, D.C., earlier this year, where Alake led a delegation of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company to the White House for discussions with David Copley, Special Assistant to the US President and Senior Director for Global Supply Chain at the National Security Council.

The discussions focused on expanding bilateral cooperation across the critical minerals value chain, covering exploration, mining, processing, value addition and refining, while developing more secure and resilient mineral supply chains needed for the global energy transition.

Alake also briefed the US delegation on reforms in Nigeria’s mining industry, including the digitisation of geological data to give investors easier access to reliable information on the country’s mineral deposits.

He said the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency had made progress in mapping and cataloguing mineral resources, describing the digital platform as an important tool for reducing risks associated with investment decisions.

Highlighting the distribution of mineral resources across the country, Alake said, “There’s a preponderance of these minerals across the country.”

He cited gold deposits in Zamfara and lithium resources in Nasarawa, Kebbi and Taraba as examples of opportunities available to investors across different parts of Nigeria.

The meeting also considered the regulatory structure governing the mining industry and the respective responsibilities of the Federal and state governments.

Alake explained that although mineral resources fall under the Federal Government’s exclusive legislative jurisdiction, states seeking to participate in the development of their mineral resources could establish Special Purpose Vehicles and apply to the ministry for the necessary licences.

He said several states had already secured licences under the arrangement, which he noted had helped resolve previous tensions linked to multiple regulatory authorities and provided investors with greater clarity.

Nasarawa State was cited as an example, with Alake pointing to the establishment of processing plants and the resulting employment opportunities as benefits of structured state participation.

The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government was in discussions with major international mining companies, including Fortescue, Glencore and BHP, over investment opportunities in Nigeria.

He further highlighted the African Minerals Strategy Group, which he chairs, as part of efforts to attract investment into Africa’s mineral sector.

The group is expected to organise a side event in New York during the UN General Assembly to connect US investors with opportunities across Africa’s mining value chain.

Alake said increased international interest in Nigeria’s mining industry reflected the impact of ongoing reforms and the government’s efforts to use mineral resources to support industrialisation and diversify the economy.

The proposed Nigeria-US cooperation is also expected to support the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its objectives of economic diversification, industrial development, job creation and attracting strategic foreign investment.

It also aligns with the seven-point agenda of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, which includes developing geological data, promoting investment, increasing local value addition, improving security in mining areas and converting mineral resources into sustainable economic opportunities.

Both sides described the Abuja meeting as productive and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation in the mining sector.