The Federal Government has issued a strong rebuttal to claims that it unfairly sited a major gold refinery in Lagos, dismissing allegations of violating the federal character principle as completely false.
Ministry Dismisses Northern Elders Forum Allegation
The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has formally rejected a statement from the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) which accused the government of locating a gold refinery in Lagos against the spirit of federal character. The ministry, through a statement from the Special Assistant to the Minister, Segun Tomori, labeled the NEF's claim as "false and misleading."
Tomori clarified that the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, never stated that the Federal Government owned or established the refinery in question. "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 emphasized from Abuja.
Private Ownership and National Policy Alignment
The ministry explained that the newly inaugurated facility is wholly a private sector venture. The refinery is an initiative of Kian Smith, a fully private mining company, spearheaded by its founder and managing director, Nere Emiko. The government praised Emiko's perseverance and leadership in delivering this flagship project after years of effort.
Tomori stressed that the Federal Government does not dictate where private companies set up operations. "Such decisions are based on individual operational and market strategies," he stated. The refinery's location in Lagos was a corporate decision, not a federal directive.
Furthermore, the project aligns perfectly with the government's core policy in the solid minerals sector: value-addition. This policy aims to stop the export of raw minerals and instead promote local processing and manufacturing within Nigeria. This strategy has already attracted significant foreign investment and created thousands of jobs.
Evidence of Policy Success and Call for Support
The ministry pointed to several other high-value projects as proof that its reforms are working. These include:
- A $600 million lithium plant in Nasarawa State.
- A $400 million rare earth plant also located in Nasarawa State.
- The $200 million ASBA lithium plant in Abuja.
Tomori asserted that the enabling environment created by the ministry's reforms over the past two years is driving this private sector-led growth. "The Lagos gold refinery and similar projects are clear evidence that the reforms in the solid minerals sector are working," he said.
In conclusion, the ministry called for unity and support from all stakeholders, including the Northern Elders Forum. "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 stated, encouraging support for efforts to create a stronger and more self-reliant national economy.
