Nigeria's Mines Minister said on Thursday Abuja is pushing to diversify its economy away from oil. 

Mines Minister Dele Alake said the two countries will partner on mining, including geological mapping using drones, share mineral data, and jointly explore agro and energy minerals in Nigeria. 

Besides oil, Nigeria is also rich in gold, limestone, lithium, iron ore and zinc. 

Nigeria has around 23 mineral deposits in commercial quantities. 

--Reuters--