Alake advocates regional hubs to power Africa’s mining industry, cites $2.6bn FDI inflow

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has called on the United States and African countries to prioritise the development of regional energy hubs as a strategic pathway to drive mining industrialisation across the continent and strengthen supply chains for critical minerals. Alake made the call while speaking at a high-level panel titled “Critical […]

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has called on the United States and African countries to prioritise the development of regional energy hubs as a strategic pathway to drive mining industrialisation across the continent and strengthen supply chains for critical minerals.

Alake made the call while speaking at a high-level panel titled “Critical Minerals in Africa: Meeting Global Demand” at the ongoing Powering Africa Summit in Washington, D.C., United States, according to a statement.

According to the minister, sustainable partnerships with Africa remain the fastest route to meeting rising global demand for critical minerals required for the global energy transition.

He advocated the creation of regional industrial corridors similar to the Lobito Corridor, highlighting the potential of the Lagos–Abidjan corridor, which spans Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as the Walvis Bay Corridor in Southern Africa.

Alake noted that such corridors would serve as economic catalysts by unlocking mineral resources, enhancing infrastructure, and boosting energy access across borders.

“The development of nuclear power in one West African country, for instance, can service an entire corridor. With that in place, local beneficiation, technology transfer, manufacturing, and cross-border industrialisation will naturally follow,” he said.

He added that establishing three to five such corridors across Africa could significantly accelerate industrialisation, creating mutual benefits for both African nations and global partners.

Highlighting ongoing reforms under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Alake said improvements in governance, regulatory frameworks, and ease of doing business have repositioned Nigeria’s mining sector as a key pillar of economic diversification.

He explained that recent policy changes now guarantee secure tenure for mineral title holders, providing the long-term certainty required to attract investment.

The minister also noted efforts to expand the availability of internationally certified geological data, aimed at supporting informed decision-making by investors.

On security, Alake acknowledged existing challenges but pointed to significant progress through the establishment of Mining Marshals to combat illegal mining activities.

He disclosed that over 350 suspected illegal miners, including foreign nationals, have been arrested within the past year, with more than 150 currently facing prosecution.

According to him, the enforcement drive is sending a strong signal that Nigeria is committed to sanitising the sector and protecting legitimate investments.