The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has dismissed claims by the Northern Elders Forum that the Federal Government sited a gold refinery in Lagos in violation of the federal character principle.
The ministry described the allegation, attributed to a statement signed by Northern Elders Forum spokesperson Prof. Abubakar Jiddere, as “false and misleading.”
In a statement issued in Abuja, the Special Assistant to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, said the minister, Dele Alake, never announced that the Federal Government owned or established a gold refinery in Lagos or anywhere else in the country.
“There was nowhere in the minister’s announcement where he said the Federal Government owns or established a gold refinery in Lagos or any other part of the country,” Tomori said.
He explained that the minister was explicit in his remarks during the announcement of the proposed inauguration of the refinery, noting that several other gold refineries are currently being developed across the country and that all are privately owned by different companies.
“The minister was clear, concise and emphatic that the refinery in question, as well as others in the pipeline across the country, are privately owned initiatives,” he added.
Tomori said the newly established gold refinery is an initiative of Kian Smith, a fully private mining company, aimed at developing Nigeria’s local gold industry through innovative practices.
“The Federal Government does not compel private companies to site their operations in any specific part of the federation. Such decisions are based on individual operational and market strategies,” he said.
He added that the government acknowledged the perseverance, enterprise and leadership of the company’s founder and managing director, Nere Emiko, for delivering what he described as a flagship project after years of sustained effort.
According to Tomori, the refinery aligns with the Federal Government’s value-addition policy in the solid minerals sector, which seeks to discourage the export of raw minerals while promoting local processing and manufacturing.
“This policy has stimulated the conversion of raw mineral exports into processing factories across the country, resulting in massive inflows of foreign capital and the creation of thousands of jobs,” he said.
He cited projects such as the $600 million lithium plant in Nasarawa State, a $400 million rare earth plant also in Nasarawa State, and the $200 million ASBA lithium plant in Abuja as evidence of the policy’s impact.
Tomori said reforms introduced by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development over the past two years have created an enabling environment for private sector participation and growth in the mining industry.
“The Lagos gold refinery and similar projects are clear evidence that the reforms in the solid minerals sector are working,” he said.
He added that the ministry would continue to encourage mining companies to establish processing and manufacturing plants across the country and urged the Northern Elders Forum to support efforts aimed at building a stronger, more self-reliant Nigerian economy.
“We urge the Northern Elders Forum to join hands with the Federal Government in building an economy that truly serves the needs of Nigerians,” Tomori said.
