Dele Alake: Gold, Lithium Plants Position Nigeria as Africa’s Minerals Supply Hub

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has said the establishment of lithium processing and gold refining plants across Nigeria is steadily positioning the country as Africa’s leading minerals supply hub and a key global partner in minerals critical to the green energy transition.

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

He said Nigeria’s value-addition policy is already delivering concrete outcomes, with a high-purity gold refining plant now operational in Lagos, three additional gold refineries at different stages of development, and a $600 million lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State ready for commissioning.

The minister commended Saudi Arabia for expanding collaboration opportunities among countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe through the Future Minerals Forum, noting that Nigeria is keen to deepen its partnership with the Kingdom by leveraging areas of comparative advantage in solid minerals development.

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According to him, both countries possess strengths that can be aligned for mutual benefit, particularly in capacity building, training of mining professionals, technology transfer and mineral exploration, where Saudi Arabia has demonstrated notable expertise.

Alake also noted that Nigeria’s vast landmass is richly endowed with critical minerals and rare earth elements required by the global economy, stressing that the Future Minerals Forum provides a strategic platform to fine-tune partnerships anchored on fairness, equity and mutual benefit.

Recalling engagements after the 2025 edition of the forum, he disclosed that a joint working group comprising the Nigerian delegation and the Saudi Chamber of Commerce has been active over the past year, adding that its report is ready and will be presented before the close of the current forum.

He identified mineral traceability, Environmental, Social and Governance standards, and mine-pit remediation as priority areas for collaboration, emphasising that traceability enhances investor confidence and should be central to any partnership, alongside clear timelines and strong monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

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In his response, Al-Khorayef reaffirmed Nigeria’s status as a longstanding ally of Saudi Arabia and agreed on the need for a practical and actionable agreement on solid minerals development.

He proposed that the working group prepare a draft memorandum of understanding based on previous engagements for possible signing on the sidelines of the conference.

He also encouraged Nigeria to use the forum to showcase investment opportunities in its mining sector to Saudi investors, while urging African countries to adopt advanced mining technologies, noting that Nigeria stands to benefit from Saudi Arabia’s progress in this area.