Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, stated that the federal government is in advanced talks with the United States government about financing mining enterprises and infrastructure in Nigeria. He made this statement while meeting with Geoffrey Pratt, the US Assistant Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources, on the sidelines of the Mines & Money conference in London.
According to the Minister, Nigeria and the United States have agreed to form a working committee comprised of officials from both countries. This team will be tasked with investigating funding possibilities for mining companies and critical infrastructure.
He stated, “I had a fruitful discussion with Geoffrey Pratt, the United States Assistant Secretary for Energy and Natural Resources, during the Mines & Money conference in London. We agreed to establish a team comprising officials from both countries to explore financing options for credit to mining firms and infrastructures.”
Pratt, for his part, stated that his discussion with Alake came after an earlier meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who wanted US backing for the country’s economic rebirth.
He stated that the US would like to be Nigeria’s preferred partner in expanding the solid minerals industry and was interested in the reforms mentioned by the minister in his address to the conference plenary.
