January 19, (THEWILL) — The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has clarified that the Lagos gold refinery is not a Federal Government project, dismissing claims by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) that its location violates the federal character principle.
A statement issued on Monday, January 19, 2026, by Segun Tomori, the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, described the allegations as misleading and stressed that the government neither owns nor established the facility.
According to the ministry, there was no indication in any official announcement that the Federal Government founded a gold refinery in Lagos.
The Minister, Dr. Dele Alake, has maintained that the refinery and others currently in the pipeline are privately owned and operated by independent companies.
The facility in question is an initiative of Kian Smith, a private mining firm aiming to boost local gold processing and strengthen Nigeria’s solid minerals value chain.
The statement explained that the Federal Government does not compel private investors to locate their businesses in specific regions, as such decisions are driven by operational logistics and market considerations.
The ministry commended the company’s founder, Ms. Nere Emiko, for completing the flagship project, noting that it aligns with the national policy of ensuring value addition before the export of raw minerals.
Tomori highlighted that the government’s value-addition policy has already attracted significant investments across the country, including a $600 million lithium plant and a $400 million rare earth plant in Nasarawa State, as well as a $200 million lithium plant in Abuja.
These projects are expected to generate thousands of jobs and increase foreign capital inflows.
The ministry added that reforms introduced over the past two years have created an enabling environment for private sector participation.
Officials urged the Northern Elders Forum to support the administration’s efforts to build a self-reliant economy through industrialization rather than regionalizing private sector successes.
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