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Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the solid minerals sector, in a move both governments say will deepen economic collaboration.
The agreement was reached on the sidelines of the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit in Türkiye, according to a statement issued on Monday by the Nigerian Government.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, also confirmed the cooperation deal in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) page Monday evening.
Nigeria has signed an MoU with the Republic of Türkiye to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the solid minerals sector, marking another important step in deepening economic collaboration between our two countries.
This partnership opens the door to greater collaboration in… pic.twitter.com/IjqzKN3F3O
— Dele Alake (@AlakeDele) May 25, 2026
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Alake, said Nigeria plans to tap into Türkiye’s expertise in mining exploration, training, digital systems, licensing frameworks and capacity building to support ongoing reforms in the sector.
He said that the Nigerian Government, under President Bola Tinubu, fully supports efforts to strengthen strategic cooperation with Türkiye, particularly in mining and energy development.
He added that Nigeria is open to working with the Turkish government to improve governance systems, enhance technical capacity and promote sustainable mining practices.
“Türkiye is one of the countries we are confident of building strong bilateral cooperation with, particularly in the area of solid minerals development. Nigeria is open to working with the Turkish government to strengthen governance structures, improve technical capacity, and advance sustainable mining development in our country,” Alake stated.
Alake, who also chairs the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, noted that recent reforms in the sector have improved regulatory efficiency and created a more attractive environment for investors.
He further explained that investors are now able to repatriate profits after fulfilling regulatory requirements, a development he said has boosted investor confidence and increased foreign direct investment inflows into the sector.
On enforcement, he said the government has intensified its crackdown on illegal mining through specially deployed Mining Marshals.
According to him, more than 300 illegal operators, including foreign nationals, have been arrested, while over 150 cases are currently being prosecuted. He also disclosed that more than 100 illegal mining sites have been reclaimed and handed back to licensed operators.
“We have significantly improved the ease of doing business and strengthened institutional support for investors. Investors can now repatriate profits after due process, while government incentives have continued to attract serious mining stakeholders into Nigeria,” he said.
“As of the latest count, over 300 illegal mining operators, including foreign nationals, have been arrested, while more than 150 prosecutions are currently ongoing. In addition, over 100 illegal mining sites have been recovered and returned to legitimate licence owners as part of efforts to restore investor confidence and strengthen lawful operations in the sector,” he stated.
On his part, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, described the partnership as strategic and timely, noting that global energy security now requires stronger international collaboration.
He said that Turkish companies are prepared to invest in Nigeria, citing recent reforms as a strong incentive.
Bayraktar also expressed interest in expanding cooperation beyond mining into energy and hydrocarbons, adding that Turkish industrial firms are looking to deepen their presence in Nigeria.
“We are ready to invest in Nigeria because of the remarkable initiatives your government has put in place. We look forward to cooperation, support, and guidance that will enable both countries to achieve meaningful results,” he said.
“Nigeria is a major player in the hydrocarbon industry. We would appreciate it if you convey to your President our desire to renew energy cooperation and contracts with Nigeria,” Bayraktar added.
