Kehinde Bamigbetan, Special Adviser to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has refuted allegations that Nigeria's mineral resources are being handed over to Chinese interests. He described these claims as false and part of a misinformation campaign aimed at discrediting the minister, particularly following the revocation of mining licenses from Basin Mining Limited. Bamigbetan clarified that the licenses were revoked due to non-payment of significant fees, leading to an international arbitration case against the government. He emphasized that Alake does not favor Chinese investors over Western companies, citing his minister's diverse international engagements. Furthermore, he noted that Nigeria's mining sector has been open to foreign investment since the 1990s, with a focus on local value addition. Bamigbetan also highlighted the long-standing economic relationship between Nigeria and China, which includes various agreements in trade and investment.
NigeriaNewsFeed summary based on reporting from Vanguard News.
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