The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) has dismissed allegations by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) that the federal government located a gold refinery in Lagos in breach of the federal character principle, describing the claim as “a parade of ignorance in the service of mischief.”
The NEF, through its spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, had alleged that the siting of the refinery in Lagos was unfair to the North.
But in a statement signed by Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, the ministry clarified the refinery in question is a private initiative owned entirely by Kian Smith, a 100 percent privately held mining company, and not a project of the federal government.
“There is no iota of truth in the allegation. The new gold refinery is the initiative of Kian Smith, a 100 percent privately owned mining company which aims to facilitate the development of the local gold industry through innovative practices,” the statement read.
It added the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, was “very clear and emphatic” in his announcement regarding the commissioning of the refinery, noting that several other gold refineries, also privately owned, are being developed across different parts of the country.
The ministry commended the founder and Managing Director of Kian Smith, Nere Emiko, for her “doggedness and perseverance” in delivering the project, describing it as a reflection of the Ministry’s Value Addition Policy.
Introduced two years ago, the policy discourages the export of raw minerals while promoting local processing and manufacturing.
According to the ministry, the policy has already attracted major investments and created thousands of jobs for Nigerians, including a $600 million lithium plant and a $400 million rare earth facility in Nasarawa State, as well as a $200 million lithium plant in Abuja.
Expressing disappointment at the NEF’s comments, the ministry lamented what it described as the “debilitating degeneration in the quality of leadership” of the forum, which it noted once served as a respected think tank.
“How could the NEF expect the federal government to force a private company to locate its operations in a particular area when each company has its operational and marketing strategy to ensure profitability?” the statement queried.
The ministry further faulted the NEF for failing to conduct basic due diligence before issuing its statement, calling the act “an embarrassing display of ignorance.”
It added that such negligence “could only have been the result of deliberate mischief, orchestration of mistrust, and acceleration of irresponsible militancy.”
Reaffirming its commitment to promoting private investment in the mining sector, the ministry pledged continued support for the establishment of processing and manufacturing plants across the country, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a stronger, self-reliant economy.
Folalumi Alaran
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