Development has dismissed claims by the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, that the Federal Government plans to establish a gold refinery in Lagos, describing the allegation as false and misleading.

The NEF had earlier, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Prof. Abubakar Jiddere, argued that siting a gold refinery in Lagos would amount to a violation of the federal character principle.

However, responding in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, Mr Segun Tomori, refuted the claim, stressing that no such government decision had been announced.

Tomori said the minister never stated that the Federal Government owned or was establishing a gold refinery in Lagos or anywhere else in the country.

According to him, the refinery in question is a wholly private investment by Kian Smith, adding that the ministry has no authority to dictate where a private investor should locate a business.

“Dr Dele Alake was very clear, concise and emphatic in the announcement of the proposed inauguration of the refinery, that other gold refineries are in the works across the country and all privately owned by different companies,” Tomori said.

He explained that the Lagos refinery is an initiative of Kian Smith, a fully privately owned mining firm, designed to support the growth of Nigeria’s local gold industry through modern and innovative methods.

Tomori noted that the Federal Government does not compel private firms to establish their operations in specific locations, as investors determine their siting based on operational efficiency and market considerations.

He added that the ministry commended the resilience and leadership of the company’s founder and Managing Director, Ms Nere Emiko, for successfully delivering the project after years of determination and enterprise.

According to him, the refinery aligns with the Federal Government’s value-addition policy in the solid minerals sector, which seeks to curb the export of raw minerals and encourage local processing and manufacturing.

Tomori said the policy had already spurred the establishment of several mineral processing plants nationwide, attracting significant foreign investment and creating thousands of jobs for Nigerians.

He listed projects such as the $600 million lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State, a $400 million rare earth minerals plant also in Nasarawa, and the $200 million ASBA lithium plant in Abuja as examples.

He further stated that sustained policy reforms by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development over the past two years had created an enabling environment for private sector participation in the mining industry.

According to him, projects like the Lagos gold refinery demonstrate the positive impact of the reforms.

“The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development will continue to encourage mining companies to establish processing and manufacturing plants across the country.

“We urge NEF to turn a new leaf and join the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to build a stronger, self-reliant economy that serves the interests of Nigerians,” Tomori said.