In a landmark move poised to reshape the African mining landscape, Nigeria and South Africa have entered a mining cooperation agreement. The agreement, signed on April 17, 2025, in Abuja by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, and South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, aims to accelerate economic diversification and intra-African cooperation. This collaboration, which involves joint geological mapping using drones, mineral data sharing, and exploration of critical minerals like lithium and iron ore, may mark a significant departure from the continent’s traditional dependency on external actors and foreign investment as it prioritises the African labour force, markets, and technological development.
Nigeria–South Africa Mineral Partnership: A Strategic Chapter in Africa’s Resource Development
