Nigeria Positions Itself as Leading Minerals Hub in Africa with Lithium and Gold Refining Facilities
The Nigerian Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has emphasized the country’s emergence as a major minerals hub in Africa and a key global partner in the transition to green energy. This development is driven by the establishment of lithium processing and gold refining facilities across the country. Dr. Alake made this statement during a meeting with the Saudi Arabian Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, ahead of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Nigeria’s value-addition policy has yielded concrete results, with a high-purity gold refinery now operational in Lagos and three additional refineries at various stages of development. Furthermore, a $600 million lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State is ready for commissioning. Dr. Alake commended Saudi Arabia for promoting collaboration among governments across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe through the Future Minerals Forum.
The minister expressed Nigeria’s eagerness to deepen its partnership with Saudi Arabia, leveraging each nation’s comparative strengths in solid minerals development. Key areas of focus include capacity building, training of mining professionals, technology transfer, and exploration, where Saudi Arabia has demonstrated expertise. Dr. Alake highlighted Nigeria’s vast mineral wealth, including critical minerals and rare earth elements vital to the global economy.
A joint working group comprising Nigerian officials and the Saudi Chamber of Commerce has been active over the past year, and its report is expected to be presented before the conclusion of the current forum. The minister also underlined the need for collaboration on mineral traceability, Environmental, Social and Governance standards, and mine-pit remediation. In response, Minister Al-Khorayef proposed that the working group draft a memorandum of understanding based on prior engagements, with a view to signing it on the sidelines of the FMF.
The development of Nigeria’s minerals sector is significant, given the country’s vast mineral resources and its potential to become a major player in the global minerals market. The partnership with Saudi Arabia is expected to enhance Nigeria’s capabilities in solid minerals development, particularly in areas such as technology transfer and capacity building. As the global demand for minerals essential to the transition to green energy continues to grow, Nigeria’s emergence as a leading minerals hub in Africa is poised to have a significant impact on the global minerals market.
