As Nigeria strives to establish a presence in the international mining corridor, its recent partnership with France has sparked both optimism and scepticism. The MoU between the two nations aims to foster collaboration in mining research and training, facilitating the exchange of students and professionals for skills and knowledge transfer.
While this initiative is expected to boost technical capacity and financial support within Nigeria’s mining sector, some experts question whether such partnerships are the most effective route to global competitiveness for smaller Nigerian miners.
Professor XYZ, a leading voice in Nigeria’s mining sector, warns of potential risks. He highlights parallels with the country’s oil and gas sector, where international players initially dominated, only for local operators to eventually gain control through years of knowledge acquisition. He stresses that partnerships with foreign entities, such as France, must be based on equality and mutual benefit.
The professor cautions against agreements that could transfer significant control of Nigeria’s resources to foreign hands, pointing to past examples where international aid and collaboration fell short of delivering long-term development for the country.
The professor also challenges the narrative that Nigeria lacks the expertise to drive its mining sector independently. With numerous Nigerians excelling in mining and petroleum roles abroad, the country is already rich in human resources.
Instead of solely relying on external support, he advocates for leveraging homegrown talent while ensuring foreign collaborations remain equitable and aligned with national interests. He concludes that the success of such agreements will ultimately be judged by the tangible benefits they deliver to Nigeria’s mining sector and its people.
