President Bola Tinubu has called on African countries to adopt a unified approach to managing the continent’s mineral resources by prioritising local processing and refining before export.
Speaking during a meeting with members of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the president emphasized the need for Africa to strengthen its role in the global mining industry and reduce dependence on exporting raw mineral resources.
Tinubu stated that the continent possesses enormous mineral wealth capable of accelerating industrialisation, generating employment opportunities, and improving economic conditions for millions of Africans. He stressed that these benefits can only be fully realised if countries invest in facilities that add value to mineral resources before they reach international markets.
The president also underscored the importance of expanding research, encouraging technology transfer, and deepening collaboration among African nations to build stronger mineral value chains that retain more economic benefits within the continent.
He noted that greater cooperation in the mining sector would help African countries gain a stronger negotiating position globally while promoting sustainable economic development.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, praised the administration’s efforts to reform Nigeria’s mining industry. He said policies promoting local value addition and beneficiation are increasingly being embraced by several African countries seeking to maximise returns from their natural resources.
Alake explained that representatives of the African Minerals Strategy Group are currently participating in the fifth African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS 2026) in Abuja, where discussions are focused on sustainable resource management, industrial growth, and strategies for enhancing value addition across Africa’s extractive industries.
