By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has strongly rebuked the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) over its criticism of the siting of a gold refinery in Lagos, describing the group’s position as a “parade of ignorance in the service of mischief.”
The Ministry was responding to claims by the NEF that the Federal Government violated the principle of federal character by allowing a gold refinery to be located in Lagos.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Ministry dismissed the allegation as false and misleading, stressing that the refinery is a purely private investment and not a government-owned project.
According to the Ministry, the refinery is owned by Kian Smith, a 100 per cent privately owned Nigerian mining company, and its location was determined solely by the promoters of the project. It added that the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, had repeatedly made it clear that the Federal Government neither owns the refinery nor dictated where it should be sited.
The Ministry further explained that the Lagos refinery aligns with its value addition policy, which seeks to end the export of raw minerals and promote local processing and manufacturing.
It noted that similar gold refineries and processing facilities are being encouraged in other parts of the country as part of efforts to deepen the mining value chain.
Beyond rebutting the NEF’s claims, the Ministry congratulated the Founder and Managing Director of the refinery, Mrs Nere Emiko, commending her resilience, vision and leadership in successfully delivering the project. It said the refinery is expected to create jobs, boost investor confidence and contribute to national economic growth.
The Ministry expressed shock at the tone and content of the NEF’s statement, describing it as evidence of a “debilitating degeneration” in the quality of leadership within the organisation.
It questioned the logic behind expecting the Federal Government to compel a private company to establish its operations in a particular region.
Reiterating its commitment to private sector-led growth, the Ministry said it has focused on creating an enabling environment for investors in the solid minerals sector, adding that the Lagos gold refinery stands as a testament to the success of that approach. It urged the NEF to undertake basic due diligence and research before issuing public statements on national economic matters.
The Ministry described the NEF’s intervention as a mix of ignorance and deliberate mischief, but maintained that it would continue to encourage mining companies to establish processing and manufacturing plants across all parts of the country.
It also called on the NEF to “turn a new leaf” and work with stakeholders to build a stronger, self-reliant economy, noting that divisive narratives run counter to the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth.
The Ministry’s statement has since generated intense debate on social media, with many Nigerians criticising the NEF for what they described as poor research and misplaced outrage.
The development has also reignited conversations about the relevance and influence of the group in contemporary national discourse.
The Ministry concluded that it would not tolerate the spread of misinformation or falsehoods in the public space, vowing to continue speaking out against narratives it considers harmful to national unity and economic progress.
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