Nigeria risks future mineral imports, geophysicists warn

Nigeria's Federal Government is ramping up efforts to attract investment into the country's abundant mineral resources and curtail the export of raw ores. However, geophysicists have issued a warning that the nation could eventually need to import minerals it currently extracts and exports unless strategic deposits are deliberately conserved.

This warning came during the 4th Annual International Conference and Training Workshop of the Nigerian Association of Exploration Geophysicists, which took place in Abuja. The conference featured discussions on the role of geophysics in resource exploration, environmental management, and infrastructure development, as well as the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, groundwater assessment, geotechnical engineering, policy, investment, and capacity building.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, emphasized that geophysics is not merely an academic discipline but a critical tool for uncovering Nigeria's underground wealth, safeguarding the environment, and securing national infrastructure. He explained that the government has made the generation of reliable geological and geophysical information a crucial part of its mining reform agenda, as accurate data is essential for reducing uncertainty and attracting investment.

The ministry, through the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), has expanded geological mapping and conducted high-resolution airborne geophysical surveys to better understand Nigeria's mineral endowment. These efforts have led to the identification of critical minerals such as lithium, graphite, copper, manganese, and rare earth elements, which are essential for the global energy transition.

President of the Nigerian Association of Exploration Geophysicists, Akin George, cautioned against the potential downside of the government's push for value addition and increased mining. He stressed the importance of a national conservation policy to protect strategically important deposits for future generations and Nigeria's long-term industrial development.

While acknowledging the government's policy of mandating value addition for any investor mining minerals in Nigeria, George warned that minerals are finite resources that cannot be replenished once extracted. He advocated for a policy that determines which deposits should be mined immediately, developed for domestic industry use, and preserved as strategic reserves.