Nigeria TV Info 

FG Rejects Northern Elders’ Claim on Lagos Gold Refinery

Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government has firmly rejected allegations by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) that it established or owns a gold refinery in Lagos, dismissing the claim as false and misleading.

In a statement issued by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, the ministry clarified that no government-owned gold refinery exists in Lagos or elsewhere and that the Minister, Dr. Dele Alake, never announced such a project. According to the statement released in Abuja, the refinery referenced by the NEF is a private initiative fully financed and executed by Kian Smith, a privately owned mining company, with no federal government equity or ownership.

The NEF, led by Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, had accused the government of violating the federal character principle by siting a “national” gold refinery in Lagos, arguing that northern mining communities should instead host such value-addition infrastructure. However, the ministry refuted claims that the government dictated the project’s location, noting that private companies are free to decide where to site their operations based on business considerations.

Government officials said the Lagos gold refinery reflects the success of the value-addition policy championed by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development — a policy aimed at discouraging the export of raw minerals and promoting local processing. The ministry noted similar private investments emerging across the country under this policy’s framework.

The FG urged stakeholders, including the Northern Elders Forum, to support national efforts to diversify the economy and build a self-reliant, inclusive industrial base rather than focus on unfounded claims.