XCMG, Shantui, LiuGong and SANY join industry stakeholders as investment security, regulatory reforms and local mineral processing take centre stage
The 11th Nigeria Mining Week opened on Tuesday at the Abuja Continental Hotel, bringing together government officials, diplomatic representatives, mining associations, investors and industry operators to discuss investment opportunities, regulatory reforms, security challenges and industrial development in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
Leading Chinese construction and mining equipment manufacturers, including XCMG, Shantui, LiuGong and SANY, participated in the event alongside the Nigeria-China Mining Association and the Africa China Chairmen Business Council Forum (ACCBCF).
Their participation provided opportunities for engagement with Nigerian and international stakeholders on mining investment, equipment supply, technical cooperation and industrial partnerships.
Held under the theme, Unlocking Investment and Growth through Partnerships, the event focused on strengthening the investment climate, expanding domestic mineral processing and promoting sustainable growth across the mining value chain.
Investment Stability and Security Remain Key Priorities
Nigeria possesses substantial deposits of gold, lithium, iron ore, limestone and other solid minerals, positioning the sector as a potential driver of economic diversification, non-oil exports and industrial development.
Cyril Azobu, Partner and Mining Industry Leader at PwC Nigeria, emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among government institutions, investors and financial organisations to translate mineral resources into sustainable economic opportunities.
He stressed that a transparent, stable and predictable regulatory environment would be critical to attracting long-term investment, alongside efforts to expand local processing and value addition.
The National President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), HRH Oba Ayandele Olaitan Oyebisi, identified insecurity around mining sites and transportation corridors, regulatory coordination between federal and state authorities, limited access to finance and inadequate infrastructure as major constraints facing the industry.
He called for improved security, increased exploration investment, better infrastructure, stronger financing mechanisms and workforce development to support sustainable mining operations.
Jane Onwumere, Director of Legal Services at the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), highlighted the importance of improving policy implementation and institutional efficiency.
Austin Menegbo, Country Manager of Segilola Resources Operating Limited (SROL), disclosed that the company produced 91,910 ounces of gold in 2025, with Nigerians accounting for 99 per cent of its workforce, underscoring the sector’s potential to support local employment.
ACCBCF Highlights Opportunities for Mining Value Chain Cooperation
The National Chairman of the Africa China Chairmen Business Council Forum (ACCBCF), Zheng Xiaopeng (High Chief Mike Yousuf Ugwu), highlighted the growing importance of moving China-Africa mining cooperation beyond resource extraction and equipment trading towards broader industrial investment.
From the forum’s perspective, sustainable mining partnerships should increasingly integrate resource development, equipment manufacturing, technology transfer, local processing and long-term investment.
Such an approach would help translate Africa’s mineral wealth into industrial production capacity while creating opportunities for joint investment and local manufacturing.
The participation of the Nigeria-China Mining Association and ACCBCF provided a platform for strengthening engagement between Chinese mining-related enterprises, Nigerian government institutions, industry associations and prospective investors.
The presence of XCMG, Shantui, LiuGong and SANY also highlighted opportunities for cooperation in mining transportation, construction machinery, equipment maintenance, technical training and spare parts supply.
As Nigeria seeks to expand mechanised mining and domestic mineral processing, further opportunities could emerge in equipment servicing, industrial power infrastructure, mineral beneficiation, project financing and industrial park development.
International Partnerships Support Sustainable Mining Development
Anna Westerholm, Head of Mission at the Swedish Embassy in Nigeria, emphasised the importance of local mineral processing, workforce safety and community development in ensuring sustainable benefits from mining investment.
The two-day event, scheduled to conclude on Oct. 14, features technical discussions, industry dialogues, exhibitions and business networking sessions.
The gathering provides a platform for connecting regulatory priorities with international capital, modern equipment and local industrial development.
For Nigeria, the sector’s long-term growth will depend on continued improvements in regulatory certainty, infrastructure, security and domestic processing capacity.
For Chinese companies and other international investors, opportunities extend beyond mineral extraction and equipment supply to technical services, engineering, joint investment and broader industrial value chain development.
As Nigeria works to move from raw mineral extraction towards local processing and manufacturing, China-Africa mining cooperation offers opportunities for deeper industrial partnerships, technology transfer and sustainable economic growth.
