The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has dismissed claims by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) that the Federal Government violated the federal character principle by siting a proposed gold refinery in Lagos.
The ministry made the clarification in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Segun Tomori.
According to the statement, the allegation by the NEF misrepresented recent comments made by the Minister, Dr Dele Alake, concerning the planned inauguration of a gold refinery project and the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms in the solid minerals sector.
The ministry explained that the minister’s remarks were not intended to suggest any preferential treatment for Lagos State, stressing that the refinery project is part of a broader national strategy to reposition Nigeria’s mining industry and boost value addition.
It noted that decisions on the location of mineral processing facilities are guided by technical, commercial and logistical considerations, including access to infrastructure, security, and proximity to export channels, rather than political or regional bias.
The ministry further stated that the Federal Government remains fully committed to the principles of fairness, equity and inclusiveness as enshrined in the Constitution, adding that the current reforms are designed to ensure balanced development across all regions of the country.
Reaffirming its respect for stakeholders’ opinions, the ministry urged the public to avoid misinterpretations capable of undermining confidence in the solid minerals reform agenda.
It assured that more mineral processing and refining projects would be established in different parts of the country as the sector continues to expand under the current administration.
