Nigeria and South Africa signed a comprehensive mining cooperation agreement Wednesday designed to accelerate mineral development through technology transfer and expertise sharing between Africa’s two largest economies.
The accord, signed in Abuja by Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake and South Africa’s Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, establishes specific implementation timelines for joint mineral sector activities under the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission framework.
“This partnership leverages South Africa’s technological expertise against Nigeria’s underexplored mineral wealth,” Alake said at the signing ceremony. Nigeria, which derives approximately 90% of export earnings from oil, has struggled to develop its estimated $700 billion in untapped mineral resources, according to Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative data. 
The agreement focuses on capacity building in geological mapping using unmanned aerial vehicles and spectral remote sensing technologies for mineral exploration. It also covers geoscientific data sharing through Nigeria’s Geological Survey Agency and advanced mineral processing techniques, including elemental fingerprinting with laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
According to mining investment analysis firm MineHutte, Nigeria ranks 115th among 190 countries in mining investment attractiveness, while South Africa stands at 60th despite recent challenges. South African mining companies possess particular expertise in geological exploration that Nigeria seeks to acquire.
The cooperation comes as both nations pursue economic diversification amid volatile commodity markets. Nigeria’s mining sector contributed just 0.3% to GDP in 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, while South Africa’s mining industry accounts for approximately 8% of its economic output.
“This represents more than routine diplomatic engagement,” Mantashe noted. “It establishes practical mechanisms for mutual economic advancement through mineral resource development.”
