The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has dismissed claims by the Northern Elders Forum that the Federal Government plans to establish a gold refinery in Lagos, describing the allegation as inaccurate and misleading.
The rebuttal followed a statement by the NEF, signed by its spokesperson, Prof. Abubakar Jiddere, which argued that locating a gold refinery in Lagos would breach the federal character principle.
However, in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Segun Tomori, clarified that no such government decision had been announced.
Tomori said the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, never stated that the Federal Government owned or intended to establish a gold refinery in Lagos or any other part of the country.
According to him, the refinery referenced by the NEF is a privately owned initiative by Kian Smith, stressing that the ministry has no mandate to determine where private investors locate their businesses.
He explained that Alake had made it clear during the announcement of the refinery’s proposed inauguration that several gold refineries were in development nationwide and that all were private sector driven.
Tomori noted that the Lagos based refinery was established by Kian Smith to support Nigeria’s gold industry through modern refining techniques and value addition.
He added that the Federal Government’s policy in the solid minerals sector prioritises local processing to reduce the export of raw minerals, attract foreign investment and create jobs.
The spokesperson cited ongoing projects including lithium and rare earth mineral processing plants in Nasarawa State and Abuja as evidence of growing private sector participation.
Tomori urged the NEF to support the administration’s efforts at building a self-reliant and diversified economy through mining sector reforms.
