Federal Government don announce say operations don officially start for one high-purity gold refining plant for Lagos, as three other gold refineries still dey different stages of development across Nigeria. Government also confirm say $600 million lithium processing plant for Nasarawa State don ready for commissioning.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclose this one on Tuesday, say the projects na clear result of government value-addition policy for mining sector and dey help reposition Nigeria as Africa leading minerals hub and global partner for critical minerals needed for green energy transition.
Alake talk this one during meeting with Saudi Arabia Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, ahead of the Future Minerals Forum wey go hold for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
According to statement from Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the minister, the meeting focus on how Nigeria and Saudi Arabia fit deepen cooperation for solid minerals development and turn previous discussions into real action.
Alake say the Lagos gold refinery wey don start work and the lithium processing plant wey dey ready for launch show Federal Government serious plan to stop exporting raw minerals and focus on in-country processing and beneficiation.
“Nigeria value-addition policy don start to show real results. We now get gold refinery of very high purity for Lagos, three more gold refineries dey come up, and $600 million lithium processing plant for Nasarawa don ready for commissioning,” Alake talk.
He add say Nigeria ready to strengthen partnership with Saudi Arabia, especially for capacity building, training of mining professionals, technology transfer and exploration.
The minister also highlight Nigeria large landmass and plenty critical minerals and rare earth elements wey global economy need, stressing say Future Minerals Forum suppose help fine-tune partnerships wey go base on fairness, equity and mutual benefit.
Alake also recall say after the 2025 edition of the forum, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia set up joint working group with members from Nigeria and Saudi Chamber of Commerce. He say the group don dey work for over one year and go submit report before the end of the current forum.
He identify mineral traceability, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, and mine-pit remediation as key areas for collaboration. According to am, mineral traceability dey boost investor confidence and must be central to any partnership, together with clear timelines and strong monitoring system.
In him response, Saudi Arabia Minister, Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, reaffirm Nigeria as long-time ally of Saudi Arabia and agree say both countries need practical and workable agreement for solid minerals development.
He propose say the joint working group should prepare draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) based on previous talks, for possible signing on the sideline of the conference.
