Oxford, United Kingdom – 12 February 2026
The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), Hajiya Fatima Umaru Shinkafi, has called for a cautious, science- and governance-led approach to deep-sea mining as Nigeria participated in the Oxford EARTH Deep Sea Mining Conference (SEACON 2026) at the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
Speaking as the only representative from the Global South at the high-level global convening examining the economic, technological, and environmental feasibility of deep-sea mining, she emphasised that Nigeria’s engagement is anchored in preparedness—not extraction.
“Nigeria is not rushing into deep-sea mining,” she stated. “We are participating at this early stage to understand the science, the financing models, and critically, the evolving international governance frameworks that will define responsibilities and liabilities for states.”
She highlighted the importance of the global regulatory architecture under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in shaping the future of deep-sea mining. She noted that issues such as state sponsorship, environmental thresholds, joint liability, transparency, and equitable benefit-sharing must be clearly understood by developing countries before any commercial decisions are contemplated.
“Nigeria must key into these multilateral processes responsibly,” she said. “Participation begins with understanding the rules, the risks, and the obligations.”
Drawing parallels with the offshore oil industry, she observed that operators historically moved offshore to manage social licensing pressures, community concerns, and security challenges often associated with land-based extraction. However, she stressed that deep-sea mineral ecosystems remain among the least understood on Earth and must be approached under the precautionary principle.
As a public investment institution, SMDF’s focus, she explained, is on partnerships to strengthen marine geology baselining, research, environmental data systems, and institutional readiness. She affirmed that SMDF stands ready to collaborate with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to de-risk knowledge and governance frameworks relevant to deep-sea mineral considerations.
She further reaffirmed that Nigeria remains firmly committed to strengthening the mining sector under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the reform-driven leadership of the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake. At the recently concluded Mining Indaba in South Africa, the Minister had advanced the closing of a US$1.3 billion capital expenditure facility with the African Finance Corporation for a bauxite processing plant in Nigeria, reinforcing the country’s commitment to beneficiation and value addition.
“Our engagement at Oxford therefore ensures that Nigeria is not unprepared for future shifts in global mineral supply chains,” she concluded.
SMDF’s participation at SEACON 2026 reflects Nigeria’s commitment to informed global dialogue, environmental responsibility, and strategic positioning within evolving international mineral governance frameworks.
