FG Dismisses NEF Claim on Lagos Gold Refinery, Calls Allegation Ignorant and Mischievous
The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has dismissed claims by the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) alleging that the Federal Government sited a gold refinery in Lagos in violation of the federal character principle, describing the assertion as false, misleading, and driven by ignorance.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry said its attention was drawn to a statement signed by the NEF spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, which wrongly suggested that the Federal Government established a gold refinery in Lagos.
According to the Ministry, there is no truth whatsoever in the allegation, stressing that the gold refinery referenced by NEF is entirely a private-sector initiative by Kian Smith, a 100 per cent privately owned Nigerian mining company.
“At no point did the Minister of Solid Minerals Development announce that the Federal Government owned or established a gold refinery in Lagos or any part of the country,” the statement clarified.
The Minister, Dr. Dele Alake, the Ministry said, was clear and emphatic that while more gold refineries are being developed nationwide, all are privately owned projects, driven by independent investment decisions.
The Federal Government also congratulated the Founder and Managing Director of Kian Smith, Mrs. Nere Emiko, for successfully delivering the project after years of perseverance, enterprise, and leadership.
The Ministry explained that the Lagos gold refinery aligns with the government’s Value Addition Policy, introduced two years ago to discourage the export of raw minerals and promote local processing and manufacturing within Nigeria.
It noted that the policy has already attracted massive investments into the solid minerals sector, including the $600 million lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State, a $400 million rare earth metals facility also in Nasarawa, and the $200 million ASBA lithium plant in Abuja, generating thousands of jobs for Nigerians.
Expressing disappointment, the Ministry said it was shocked by what it described as the declining quality of leadership and discourse within the NEF, an organisation it said once played a respected role as a policy think-tank.
“How could the NEF expect the Federal Government to compel a private company to locate its operations in a particular region, when such decisions are guided by operational and market strategies?” the statement queried.
The Ministry further accused the NEF of failing to conduct basic due diligence before making what it called embarrassing and inflammatory claims, adding that such actions could only be interpreted as deliberate mischief and an attempt to stir mistrust.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to creating an enabling environment for private-sector investment in mining and pledged to continue encouraging companies to establish processing and manufacturing plants across all regions of the country.
It urged the NEF to support the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, aimed at building a stronger, self-reliant Nigerian economy.
The statement was signed by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development.
