Conserve lithium other strategic minerals, geophysicists urge FG

Federal Government's push to attract investment into Nigeria's mineral resources has raised concerns from geophysicists about the need to conserve strategic deposits. Exploration geophysicists warned that if high-grade mineral reserves are not protected, Nigeria may have to import minerals it currently extracts and exports. The Nigerian Association of Exploration Geophysicists (NAEG) emphasized the importance of a national conservation policy to safeguard critical minerals for future generations and industrial development.

The NAEG President, Akin George, warned that the rush to mine and process minerals could result in the depletion of strategic deposits, which are finite resources that cannot be replenished once exhausted. He stressed the need for a balanced approach, considering the strategic importance of preserving certain mineral deposits while allowing for value addition and processing of others.