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Nigeria and South Africa Forge Strategic Mining Alliance to Power Industrial Growth
Nigeria and South Africa have entered into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on mining development—aimed at accelerating industrialization and job creation across both nations.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The agreement was signed in Abuja as part of renewed efforts under the Nigeria–South Africa Bi-National Commission, revitalized by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Cyril Ramaphosa. The deal signifies a major step forward in economic diplomacy, particularly in the solid minerals sector, which both countries have identified as a driver of sustainable growth and employment.
According to a statement by Segun Tomori, media aide to the Nigerian Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, the MoU was formalized during a bilateral session between Dr. Alake and his South African counterpart, Minister Gwede Mantashe. Both leaders emphasized the importance of this partnership for advancing technological exchange, regional integration, skills development, and investment facilitation.
Dr. Alake hailed the agreement as a transformative opportunity to strengthen Africa’s economic structure through the mining sector. He highlighted the focus areas of the agreement, including:
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Capacity Building: Training geoscientists in drone-based geological applications.
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Cutting-Edge Exploration: Use of multispectral and hyperspectral imaging for detailed mineral mapping.
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Geological Data Sharing: Seamless information exchange through the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA).
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Mineral Processing Skills: Enhancing local expertise in mineral beneficiation and value addition.
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Technology Sharing: Introducing LA-ICP-MS for more accurate mineral fingerprinting.
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Exploration of Agro and Energy Minerals: Joint development of Nigeria’s untapped agro-mineral and energy deposits.
Dr. Alake reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to revitalizing its mining sector as a cornerstone of its economic diversification strategy. He noted South Africa’s longstanding experience in mining operations and governance would complement Nigeria’s vast, underutilized mineral wealth.
Minister Mantashe expressed optimism about the partnership, describing it as a strategic extension of South Africa’s commitment to intra-African cooperation and industrial synergy. He emphasized that the MoU marks a practical step in converting diplomatic intentions into actionable development projects.
Both ministers committed to a structured implementation timeline, regular performance evaluations, and fostering public-private collaborations—particularly through the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The signing ceremony was attended by several senior officials, including:
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Shuaibu Audu, Nigeria’s Minister of Steel Development
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Dr. Mary Ogbe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals
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Dr. Chris Isokpunwu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Steel Development
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Senior Directors from both ministries
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Members of the South African delegation
This partnership marks a pivotal shift in Africa’s mining future, blending innovation with shared prosperity across borders.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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