Ministry Clarifies: Lagos Gold Refinery is Private Sector Initiative, Not Federal Project

The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has firmly rejected recent claims by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) that the government sited a gold refinery in Lagos in breach of the federal character principle.

In a statement issued in Abuja and made available to Timescope News, Mr. Segun Tomori, Special Assistant to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, described the NEF's allegations as untrue and misleading. The statement was in response to remarks attributed to NEF spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jiddere.

Tomori clarified that the Minister had made no announcement regarding the establishment of the refinery in question. He emphasized that the facility is solely the initiative of Kian Smith, a fully privately-owned mining company.

According to the Ministry, the refinery represents a private sector investment aimed at developing Nigeria's local gold industry through innovative practices and does not constitute a federal government project or a violation of any geographical placement principle.