Nigeria Didn’t Sign Any Mining Right Away To France – FG

The Presidency has come out to state that France is not taking over Nigeria’s mining sector.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare recently had its say via a press statement, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, both countries only agreed to collaborate on research, training, and Franco-Nigerian student exchanges for knowledge and skills transfer, and Nigeria did not sign any mining right away to the French.

He added that the recent rumors circulating online saying otherwise are malicious and false.

His words, “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.

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.”