GOLD, LITHIUM PLANTS TO MAKE NIGERIA AFRICA’S MINERALS HUB – ALAKE
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
Nigeria is set to emerge as Africa’s leading minerals supply hub with the establishment of lithium processing and gold refining plants across the country, according to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake.
Speaking during talks with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, ahead of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Alake said Nigeria’s value-addition drive is already paying off. He noted that a high-purity gold refinery is operating in Lagos, while more refineries and a major lithium plant in Nasarawa are nearing full operation, strengthening Nigeria’s role in the global green energy supply chain.
Alake stressed that Nigeria is seeking deeper cooperation with Saudi Arabia to unlock its vast mineral resources, boost investor confidence and build a more sustainable mining sector. He described the Future Minerals Forum as a key platform for turning shared interests into practical partnerships that benefit both countries.
Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to working with Nigeria and proposed a formal agreement to advance cooperation in solid minerals, encouraging Nigeria to use the forum to attract new investments into its mining industry.