Kalu Seeks Uzbekistan’s Partnership For Nigeria’s Mining Sector Development

Oluwakemi Kindness

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has advocated for a strategic collaboration between Nigeria and Uzbekistan to bolster Nigeria’s solid minerals and mining industry.

He made the call during a high-level meeting with Uzbekistan’s Minister of Mining and Geology, Yusupov Ural Sadullayevich, at Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology on Monday in Tashkent.

The meeting was an integral part of the Deputy Speaker’s itinerary while attending the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Uzbekistan.

According to a statement on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the Deputy Speaker’s delegation included Senator Ireti Kingibe, Representative Olumide Osoba, Representative Mark Esset, and the Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamorudeen Ogunlana.

The Uzbekistan Minister of Mining and Geology, accompanied by the First Deputy Minister, Omonullo Nasritdinkhodjaev, during the meeting provided the Nigerian delegation with a comprehensive overview of the extensive reforms that have transformed the mining and minerals sector in Uzbekistan.

Sadullayevich highlighted the pivotal role of the minerals sector in Uzbekistan’s economy, noting that it is the largest contributor to job creation in the country.

The Minister emphasized that Uzbekistan has implemented a forward-thinking policy focused on developing the value chain around its minerals.

He said that the approach also ensures the country does not export raw minerals but develops the entire value chain, exporting high-value finished products.

He added that the strategic approach has equally yielded significant benefits, including the growth of the Uzbekistan economy, driven by the establishment of numerous local industries that process mineral byproducts.

The minister specifically attributed the growth of the Uzbekistan economy to the policy, citing the establishment of numerous industries which locally process the byproducts of the minerals and natural resources that abound in the country.

He expressed Uzbekistan’s willingness to share its expertise and knowledge on minerals sector development with Nigeria through various means, including exchange programs for students in tertiary institutions to learn mining and geological sciences.

Both parties agreed that their respective countries can explore trade relationships and bilateral exchange visits to foster cooperation and knowledge sharing, promising to engage in further discussions with the relevant organs in their countries to pave the way for a deeper and more meaningful relationship between Nigeria and Uzbekistan in the minerals sector.