France is committed to supporting Nigeria’s roadmap for mining development, French Ambassador to Nigeria Marc Fonbaustier said yesterday.
The envoy also reaffirmed France’s commitment to remain Nigeria’s formidable ally in developing the solid minerals sector.
Fonbaustier gave the commitment during a courtesy call on Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake in Abuja.
A statement by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, quoted Fonbaustier as expressing France keen interest in investing in the rapidly developing solid minerals sector of Nigeria.
Alake acknowledged and identified France’s frontline position among prospective stakeholders who have shown interest in the solid minerals sector.
The minister noted that France has shown “enthusiasm, commitment, and readiness to implement tangible projects” in the mining sector of Nigeria
He expressed optimism that the long-standing and robust bilateral relationship between Nigeria and France will be further enhanced “through key initiatives in the solid minerals sector backed by actionable goals with clear timelines.”
Alake reiterated that the core agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu policy initiatives has been the diversification of the economy with emphasis on solid minerals development.
He highlighted the imperative of continued engagement with the French team to identify serious French companies interested in the mining sector whilst also fine-tuning areas of collaboration to concretize partnership based on the earlier signed MOU.
Nigeria and France signed an MOU late last year on the heels of President Tinubu’s state visit to France to develop joint projects for promotion and diversification of the critical minerals value chain with emphasis on technical assistance, capacity building, and remediation of abandoned pits.
Corroborating the ambassador, Deputy Head, Regional Economic Department of the French Embassy, Carole Libreton, expressed France’s readiness to fund projects in the mining corporation and collaborate with the ministry to galvanize French companies for development of the mining value chain.
On Ambassador Marc Fonbaustier’s entourage were the French embassy’s head of regional economic department, Florent Mangin and Deputy Head, regional economic department, Carole Lebreton.
