Illegal exportation of gold, other solid minerals gone, says President… 

The era of exporting raw gold, lithium and other minerals is gone for good, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said yesterday.

He said that many local companies have already adjusted their business plans to the new normal, urging others to do same.

The President said the creation of the policy of value addition to mineral resources before exportation by his administration was to halt the huge losses recorded through the exports of unprocessed mineral commodities.

He spoke in Abuja at the second day of the eighth edition of the Nigerian Mining Week which was organised by the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN).

Solid Mineral Development Minister, Mr. Dele Alake, whose ministry hosted the event at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in conjunction with others, said an end is in sight for the exportation of raw materials.

The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume said: “This administration has hit the ground running with remodeling the former Ministry of Mines and Steel Development into the ministry of Solid Minerals development and Ministry of steel developments, the orders to demonstrate the resolve of the federal government to maximise the potentials of the mining industry significantly improves its contribution to the revenue of government.

“The present administration has observed the huge losses recorded by the nation through the exports of crude mineral commodities and therefore has evolved a policy of value addition to its mineral resources before exportation, the policy will ensure that the teaming youths in the country will also be meaningfully absorbed in economic benches that will empower them while developing their skills.

The minister cited the take-off of a lithium battery production factory in Ondo, Ondo State and similar start-ups all over the country as gains of the policy.

He got an ally in Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, who informed that two other mineral processing plants with billion-dollar finished goods were set to start.

Alake restated the commitment of the Tinubu administration to revive economic growth by  developing vast solid mineral deposits in the country.