The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has dismissed claims by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) that the Federal Government established a gold refinery in Lagos in violation of the federal character principle.
In a statement on Sunday in Abuja, Mr Segun Tomori, Special Assistant to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, described the allegations in a statement by NEF spokesperson Prof. Abubakar Jiddere as “not true and misleading.”
Tomori emphasized that the Minister had not announced the establishment of any government-owned gold refinery. “There was nowhere in the Minister of Solid Minerals’ announcement that the Federal Government owned or established a gold refinery in Lagos or anywhere else,” he said. “Dr Dele Alake was clear and emphatic that other gold refineries are in the works across the country and all are privately owned by different companies.”
According to Tomori, the Lagos refinery was initiated by Kian Smith, a fully privately-owned mining company, as part of efforts to develop the local gold industry using innovative practices. He added that private firms decide independently where to locate operations, guided by operational and marketing strategies.
The Ministry highlighted that the refinery reflects the government’s value-addition policy, aimed at discouraging raw mineral exports while promoting local processing and manufacturing. Tomori cited other landmark projects under the policy, including a USD 600 million lithium plant and a USD 400 million rare earth plant in Nasarawa State, as well as a USD 200 million ASBA lithium plant in Abuja, which collectively generate foreign capital inflows and create thousands of jobs.
“The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has, through policy reforms, been creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive in mining over the past two years,” Tomori said.
He further encouraged NEF to support national development efforts, stating: “The Lagos gold refinery and similar projects are clear evidence of the effectiveness of reforms in the solid minerals sector. We urge NEF to turn a new leaf and join the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to build a stronger, self-reliant economy that meets the needs of the Nigerian people.”
