By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
MOVES TO establish lithium processing and gold refining plants across Nigeria are positioning the country as Africa’s leading minerals hub and a critical global partner in minerals required for the transition to green energy, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development has said.
A statement issued and signed by Mr. Segun Tomori, Special Assistant, Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development on 13 January 2026, said the assertion was made by Dr Dele Alake during a meeting with the Saudi Arabian Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr Ibrahim Al Khorayef, held ahead of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
It noted that their meeting focused on expanding cooperation in solid minerals development and strengthening bilateral engagement between both countries.
According to Dr Alake, Nigeria’s policy of value addition in the minerals sector was already producing tangible outcomes as he also stated that a gold refining plant producing very high purity output is now operational in Lagos, while three additional gold refineries are at different stages of development.
Dr Alake also disclosed that a $600 million lithium processing plant located in Nasarawa State is ready for commissioning.
He also commended Saudi Arabia for what he described as its pivotal role in broadening opportunities for collaboration among governments across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe through the Future Minerals Forum.
He assured the country that Nigeria is eager to deepen its partnership with the Kingdom by leveraging areas of comparative advantage in solid minerals development.
Dr Alake further said that both countries possess strengths that could support mutually beneficial engagement adding that Nigeria is keen on structuring agreements that would allow for meaningful and constructive cooperation.
He identified capacity building, training of mining professionals, technology transfer, and exploration as priority areas for collaboration. He noted that Saudi Arabia has demonstrated expertise in exploration and that Nigeria is interested in engaging in that area.
He further said Nigeria’s vast landmass is endowed with abundant critical minerals and rare earth elements required by the global economy stressing the importance of using the Future Minerals Forum platform to refine partnerships that are actionable and grounded in fairness, equity, and mutual benefit.
Recalling engagements that followed the Future Minerals Forum 2025, Dr Alake said a joint working group comprising members of the Nigerian delegation and the Saudi Chamber of Commerce has remained active over the past year.
He added that the working group has completed its report and that it is ready for presentation before the close of the current forum.
The minister also identified mineral traceability, Environmental Social and Governance standards, and mine pit remediation as areas requiring focused collaboration noting that mineral traceability boosts investor confidence and should form a core element of any partnership framework.
He said such cooperation should include clear implementation timelines as well as robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
Dr Alake told his counterpart that Nigeria views the proposed areas of cooperation as essential to building a transparent and sustainable minerals sector that aligns with global expectations and supports long term development objectives.
He reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to engage constructively with Saudi Arabia within the framework of the Future Minerals Forum.
In his remarks, Mr Al Khorayef reaffirmed Nigeria’s status as a longstanding ally of Saudi Arabia as he agreed on the need to develop a practical and actionable agreement on solid minerals development between both countries.
He proposed that the joint working group develop a draft memorandum of understanding based on earlier engagements for possible signing on the sidelines of the conference.
He also urged Nigeria to use the Future Minerals Forum platform to showcase investment opportunities within its mining sector to Saudi investors and encouraged African countries to adopt advanced technologies in mining development and noted that Nigeria could benefit from Saudi Arabia’s progress in this area.
Mr Al Khorayef said the Forum provides a platform for countries to exchange ideas, promote partnerships, and attract investment into the minerals sector and added that collaboration through the Forum could support the development of mining industries across participating regions.
