The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has said the establishment of lithium processing and gold refining plants across Nigeria is positioning the country as Africa’s leading minerals supply hub and a strategic global partner in minerals critical to the green energy transition.
Gatekeepers News reports that Alake made the assertion on Tuesday during a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, ahead of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s value-addition policy in the solid minerals sector is already delivering measurable outcomes. He disclosed that a high-purity gold refining plant is currently operational in Lagos, while three additional refineries are at different stages of development. He also revealed that a $600 million lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State is ready for commissioning.
Alake commended Saudi Arabia for using the Future Minerals Forum to expand collaboration among governments in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe, noting that Nigeria is keen to deepen its partnership with the Kingdom by leveraging areas of mutual strength in solid minerals development.
“There are areas of comparative advantage where Saudi Arabia excels and others where Nigeria has strengths. We are keen on structuring agreements that will enable us to engage meaningfully and constructively,” he said.
He identified capacity building, training of mining professionals, technology transfer and exploration as priority areas for collaboration, adding that Saudi Arabia has demonstrated expertise, particularly in mineral exploration.
Alake further noted that Nigeria’s vast landmass is richly endowed with critical minerals and rare earth elements required by the global economy, stressing the need to utilise the FMF platform to forge actionable partnerships anchored on fairness, equity and mutual benefit.
Recalling engagements following the FMF 2025, the minister said a joint working group comprising Nigerian officials and the Saudi Chamber of Commerce has been active over the past year, with its report ready for presentation before the close of the current forum.
He also highlighted mineral traceability, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, and mine-pit remediation as critical areas requiring collaboration. According to him, mineral traceability enhances investor confidence and should be central to any partnership, alongside clear implementation timelines and strong monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
In his remarks, Al-Khorayef reaffirmed Nigeria’s status as a long-standing ally of Saudi Arabia and agreed on the need for a practical and results-driven agreement on solid minerals development.
He proposed that the joint working group prepare a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU), based on previous engagements, for possible signing on the sidelines of the forum.
Al-Khorayef also urged Nigeria to leverage the FMF platform to showcase investment opportunities in its mining sector to Saudi investors, while encouraging African countries to adopt advanced mining technologies, noting that Nigeria could benefit from Saudi Arabia’s progress in this area.
