The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has denied claims by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) that the government violated the federal character principle by siting a gold refinery in Lagos.
The ministry issued a statement on Sunday in Abuja, clarifying that the Federal Government neither owns nor established a gold refinery in Lagos or anywhere else in the country.
The refinery in question is a private initiative by Kian Smith, a wholly private mining company, which is aimed at developing Nigeria’s local gold industry.
The ministry explained that the government does not direct private companies on where to locate their businesses, as such decisions are based on individual companies’ operational and commercial considerations.
The statement also acknowledged the perseverance of Kian Smith’s founder and Managing Director, Ms. Nere Emiko, and emphasized the refinery’s role in Nigeria’s policy to discourage the export of raw minerals and encourage local processing and manufacturing.
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