The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, says new lithium processing and gold refining plants are positioning Nigeria as Africa’s leading minerals hub.

He said the projects signal Nigeria’s shift from raw mineral exports to value-added processing, boosting revenue, jobs, and competitiveness within the global mining industry.

Mr Alake spoke during a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, ahead of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh.

The forum is scheduled to be held from January 13 to 15, bringing together global leaders, investors, and policymakers in mining and mineral development.

A statement by his media aide, Segun Tomori, on Tuesday said the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in minerals and industrial development.

Mr Alake said the emerging plants were also positioning Nigeria as a critical global partner in minerals essential for the green energy transition.

He noted that lithium and gold play strategic roles in electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and advanced manufacturing worldwide.

The minister said Nigeria’s value-addition policy was yielding results, with a high-purity gold refinery now operational in Lagos.

He added that three additional gold refineries were at various stages of development, expected to further reduce illegal exports and improve traceability.

Mr Alake said a $600 million lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State had been completed and was ready for formal inauguration.

He said the facility would support battery production value chains and attract further foreign and local investments.

The minister commended Saudi Arabia for expanding collaboration opportunities across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe through the Future Minerals Forum.

He said the forum had become a critical platform for aligning national strategies with global mineral supply needs.

Mr Alake said Nigeria was eager to deepen its partnership with Saudi Arabia by leveraging respective areas of comparative advantage.

“There are areas where Saudi Arabia excels and others where Nigeria has strengths. We are keen on structuring agreements that enable meaningful, balanced, and constructive engagement,” Alake said.

He said priority areas included capacity building, training of mining professionals, technology transfer, and mineral exploration.

Mr Alake noted that Saudi Arabia had demonstrated expertise in exploration technologies and geological data management.

According to him, Nigeria’s vast landmass contains abundant critical minerals and rare-earth elements in demand by the global economy.

Mr Alake recalled that after FMF 2025, a joint working group with the Saudi Chamber of Commerce sustained engagements throughout the year.

He said the group’s report was ready for presentation before the current forum closes.

The minister also highlighted mineral traceability, ESG standards, and mine-pit remediation as priority areas for collaboration.

“Mineral traceability boosts investor confidence and must anchor partnerships, alongside clear timelines and robust monitoring mechanisms,” he said.

(NAN)