Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has called for the establishment of regional energy hubs across Africa in partnership with the United States, as part of efforts to accelerate mining industrialisation and secure global supply chains for critical minerals.
Alake made the call at the Powering Africa Summit in Washington, D.C., where he spoke during a high-level panel on Africa’s role in meeting global demand for critical minerals.
According to a statement issued by his media aide, Segun Tomori, the minister stressed that Africa’s vast mineral resources can only be fully harnessed through strategic partnerships, sustainable infrastructure, and regional integration.
He proposed the development of industrial corridors similar to the Lobito Corridor, highlighting the potential of routes such as the Lagos–Abidjan corridor linking Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire and the Walvis Bay Corridor as key drivers of economic growth.
“The development of nuclear power in one West African country can service an entire corridor,” Alake said, adding that such infrastructure would spur local processing, technology transfer, manufacturing, and cross-border industrialisation.
He noted that establishing three to five such corridors across the continent could significantly boost Africa’s industrial capacity while delivering mutual benefits for both African nations and global partners.
The minister also highlighted reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which he said have repositioned Nigeria’s mining sector as a major pillar of economic diversification. These include improved regulatory frameworks, digitised licensing processes, and enhanced ease of doing business.
Alake revealed that the reforms have attracted over $2.6 billion in foreign direct investment into the sector within two years, while also ensuring secure tenure for mineral title holders to encourage long-term investments.
He added that the government is expanding access to internationally certified geological data to support investors and has intensified efforts to combat illegal mining.
According to him, the newly established Mining Marshals have arrested more than 350 suspected illegal miners including foreign nationals with over 150 currently facing prosecution.
“We have de-risked and sanitised the mining environment, making it attractive for investors,” Alake said, assuring foreign partners of incentives such as tax waivers on mining equipment and full profit repatriation after taxes.
Also speaking at the summit, Sarah Whitten of the U.S. Export-Import Bank expressed readiness to support African mining projects but emphasised the importance of political stability in unlocking private sector capital.
The panel, which also featured Sekou Camara and executives from global firms, underscored Africa’s growing strategic importance in the global transition to clean energy.
