Lagos gold refinery: FG faults NEF over ownership

Alake

The attention of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development

has been drawn to a statement credited to the Northern Elders Forum and signed by its spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere.

The statement alleged that the Federal Government sited a gold refinery in Lagos and on that basis, criticized the location of the refinery as a violation of the principle of federal character.

There is no iota of truth in the allegation. The new gold refinery is the initiative of Kian Smith, a 100 percent privately owned mining company which aims to facilitate the development of local gold industry through innovative practices.

There was no where in the Minister of Solid Minerals announcement that the federal government owned or established a gold refinery in Lagos or anywhere for that matter !

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake was very clear, concise and emphatic in the announcement of the proposed commissioning of the refinery that other gold refineries are in the works across the country – and all privately owned by different companies.

The Federal Government congratulates the founder and Managing Director, Nere Emiko for her doggedness in delivering a dream project after years of perseverance, enterprise and leadership.

The refinery captures the response of the solid minerals sector to the policy of Value Addition enunciated by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development two years ago which discourages the export of raw minerals and localizes the processing and manufacturing of minerals.