The Federal Government has dismissed claims that it plans to establish a gold refinery in Lagos.
The government was responding to a warning from the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) that establishing a gold refinery in Lagos would constitute a violation of the federal character principle.
In a statement on Sunday, the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, Segun Tomori, described the claims as false and misleading.
Tomori said the minister never stated that the Federal Government owned or was establishing a gold refinery in Lagos or anywhere else in the country.
He explained that the refinery in question is a wholly private investment by Kian Smith, adding that the ministry has no authority to dictate where a private investor should locate a business.
“Dr Dele Alake was very clear, concise and emphatic in the announcement of the proposed inauguration of the refinery, that other gold refineries are in the works across the country and all privately owned by different companies,” Tomori said.
Tomori noted that the Federal Government does not compel private firms to establish their operations in specific locations, as investors determine their siting based on operational efficiency and market considerations.
According to him, the refinery aligns with the Federal Government’s value-addition policy in the solid minerals sector, which seeks to curb the export of raw minerals and encourage local processing and manufacturing.
Tomori said the policy had already spurred the establishment of several mineral processing plants nationwide, attracting significant foreign investment and creating thousands of jobs for Nigerians.
He listed projects such as the $600 million lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State, a $400 million rarare-earthinerals plant al Nasarawa, and the $200 million ASBA lithium plant in Abuja as examples.
He further stated that sustained policy reforms by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development over the past two years had created an enabling environment for private sector participation in the mining industry.
According to him, projects like the Lagos gold refinery demonstrate the positive impact of the reforms.
“The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development will continue to encourage mining companies to establish processing and manufacturing plants across the country.
“We urge NEF to turn a new leaf and join the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to build a stronger, self-reliant economy that serves the interests of Nigerians,” Tomori said.