The Nigerian government has dismissed claims suggesting the nation has relinquished its mining rights to France, saying both countries are collaborating to grow the industry.
After President Bola Tinubu’s recent official visit to France, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was established to encourage and diversify critical minerals value chains, rumours emerged online indicating that Nigeria was surrendering control of its mining industry.
Nonetheless, Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser for Media & Public Communication to President Tinubu, clarified on Friday that the MOU intends to foster collaboration between the two nations in research, training, and skill development.
“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 interests as being maliciously circulated. No,” Dare posted on X.
Dare stressed that the agreement aims to encourage sustainable mining practices and lessen the environmental effects of mining activities.
“The governments of Nigeria and France have come to an understanding to develop cooperative projects to advance and diversify the critical minerals value chain within the solid minerals sector of both nations,” the statement further revealed.
The government also underscored that Nigeria maintains complete sovereignty over its natural resources and that the MOU is crafted to improve the nation’s mining capabilities and aid economic development.
