![Hon. Festus Keyamo SAN arrives MMIA past 11:50 p.m. Feb 23 to lead oversight of Terminal 1 fire. Joined FAAN MD & team actively managing situation. Directed morning inspection Tuesday to guide restoration & confirm safety standards. Reaffirmed focus on passenger safety. Story: [link] #KeyamoMMIA #FireIncident #FAAN](https://fullcliphq.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mym-150x150.jpg "MMIA Fire: Keyamo Inspects Lagos Airport After Terminal 1 Blaze Disrupts Flights")
The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has rejected claims by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) that the federal government established a gold refinery in Lagos, describing the allegation as false and misleading.
In a statement issued Sunday, Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to Minister Dele Alake, said the NEF’s assertions—signed by spokesperson Prof. Abubakar Jiddere—were untrue. He clarified that Minister Alake never announced the establishment of any government-owned refinery in Lagos or elsewhere. Instead, Alake referenced the proposed inauguration of a privately owned refinery, noting that additional private-led projects are underway nationwide.
Tomori emphasized that the Lagos facility is a fully private initiative by Kian Smith, a mining company led by Managing Director Nere Emiko. The project aims to advance Nigeria’s gold industry through value addition and innovation, in line with government policy discouraging raw mineral exports and promoting domestic processing.
He stressed that the ministry does not dictate the location of private investments, which are determined by operational and market strategies. Tomori praised Emiko’s perseverance in delivering the flagship project after years of effort.
The ministry highlighted broader reforms in the solid minerals sector that have attracted foreign capital and created thousands of jobs. Examples include a $600 million lithium plant in Nasarawa State, a $400 million rare earth plant also in Nasarawa, and a $200 million ASBA lithium plant in Abuja—all private-led ventures under the value-addition push.
Reiterating its commitment to fostering an enabling environment for private sector growth, the ministry urged the NEF to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s drive for a self-reliant economy benefiting all Nigerians.
The NEF had argued that siting such a facility in Lagos breached the federal character principle, which promotes equitable distribution of national resources and opportunities across regions.
