Critical Assessment of Nigeria’s Compliance with the Africa Mining Vision Commitments: A Benchmarking and Policy Reform Study

The Africa Mining Vision (AMV), adopted by the African Union in 2009, articulates a comprehensive framework for transforming Africa's mineral wealth into sustainable development, yet Nigeria's progress against AMV commitments has not been rigorously and comprehensively evaluated in the academic literature. This dissertation conducts a critical assessment of Nigeria's compliance with AMV commitments across its seven thematic pillars, using an original benchmarking methodology and multi-source evidence synthesis. The assessment framework operationalises AMV commitments into 84 measurable indicators across pillars covering geological knowledge, regulatory governance, human and institutional capacities, mining-linked industrial development, social and environmental dimensions, and mineral revenue management. Indicator data were assembled from government publications, regulatory reports, NEITI Audit reports, African Development Bank datasets, and 76 key informant interviews with policymakers, industry actors, civil society organisations, and academic experts conducted across Abuja, Lagos, Jos, Enugu, and Kano. A composite AMV compliance index was constructed for Nigeria and benchmarked against Botswana, Tanzania, Ghana, and Senegal. Nigeria scores highest on the geological knowledge and regulatory framework pillars and lowest on industrial linkages and human capacity dimensions. A policy reform pathway document is produced, identifying 22 high-priority legislative and institutional reforms with sequenced implementation timelines. The dissertation makes an original contribution to African mining governance literature and provides an evidence base for Nigeria's next National Minerals and Metals Policy. Keywords: Africa Mining Vision, Nigeria, compliance assessment, mining governance, policy reform.