The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has dismissed claims by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) that the Federal Government sited a gold refinery in Lagos in violation of the federal character principle.
It said the allegations contained in a statement signed by
the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) spokesperson, Prof. Abubakar Jiddere, were not
true and misleading.
In a statement on Sunday in Abuja, Mr Segun Tomori, Special
Assistant to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, said
the minister had not made any such announcement.
“There was nowhere in the Minister of Solid Minerals
announcement that the Federal Government owned or established a gold refinery
in Lagos or anywhere for that matter.
“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,” he said.
Tomori said the newly established gold refinery was an
initiative of Kian Smith, a fully privately-owned mining company, aimed at
developing the local gold industry through innovative practices.
He explained that the Federal Government does not compel
private companies to locate their operations in any particular part of the
federation, as each firm has its own operational and marketing strategy to
ensure profitability.
He said the Federal Government acknowledged the doggedness
of the company’s founder and Managing Director, Ms Nere Emiko, for delivering a
flagship project after years of perseverance, enterprise and leadership.
According to him, the refinery reflects the solid minerals
sector’s response to the value-addition policy introduced to discourage the
export of raw minerals and to promote local processing and manufacturing.
Tomori said the policy had stimulated the conversion of raw
mineral exports into processing factories across the country, generating
massive inflows of foreign capital and providing thousands of jobs for
Nigerians.
He said this included the 600 million dollars lithium plant
in Nasarawa state, the 400 million dollars rare earth plant also in Nasarawa
State and the 200 million dollars ASBA lithium plant in Abuja.
Tomori said the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development,
through its policy reforms, had been creating an enabling environment for the
private sector to thrive and flourish in the mining sector over the past two
years.
He said the Lagos gold refinery and similar projects were
clear evidence of the effectiveness of reforms in the solid minerals sector.
“The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development shall continue
to encourage more mining companies to set up 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
meets the needs of the Nigerian people, ”he said.
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