FG launches Lagos gold refinery, $600m Nasarawa lithium plant; cracks down on illegal ore transport in Kwara

The Federal Government has inaugurated a high-purity gold refinery in Lagos and announced the commissioning of a $600 million lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State, as part of a broader push to strengthen Nigeria’s local mineral processing capacity and position the country as a leading hub for critical minerals in Africa.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, disclosed the developments on Tuesday during a bilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, ahead of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh. According to Alake, the Lagos refinery is already operational, while three additional gold refineries across the country are at various stages of development.

“These projects mark tangible outcomes of our value-addition policy in the mining sector, moving Nigeria away from exporting raw minerals toward in-country processing and beneficiation,” Alake said. “The $600 million lithium processing plant in Nasarawa is ready for commissioning, reflecting the government’s determination to leverage critical minerals for economic diversification and global energy transition value chains.”

The minister highlighted Nigeria’s abundant mineral resources and stressed that the country is keen to strengthen partnerships with Saudi Arabia in areas such as capacity building, mining technology transfer, exploration, and ESG-compliant operations. He noted that a joint working group with the Saudi Chamber of Commerce has been active since last year and will present a report before the conclusion of the forum.

Minister Al-Khorayef praised Nigeria’s investment opportunities and called for actionable agreements to accelerate development in the mining sector, particularly in critical minerals. He urged Nigeria and other African nations to adopt advanced mining technologies and showcase investment potentials at the Future Minerals Forum.

Crackdown on illegal lithium transport in Kwara

In a related enforcement move, the South-West Zonal Office of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) in Kwara State, intercepted seven trucks suspected of illegally transporting lithium ore from Saki, Oyo State, on Friday, January 9, 2026.

Zonal Mines Officer, Ganiyu Ajibade, said the convoy of trucks had departed Saki late at night and was intercepted along the Okoolowo–Eyenkorin Expressway in Kwara State between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. One driver escaped, abandoning his vehicle, while the others were taken into custody.

“The drivers admitted they were hired to transport lithium ore and were accompanied by Mine Marshal personnel from Abuja. All accompanying mining documents were recovered,” Ajibade said.

He emphasised that the operation was in line with directives from Minister Alake, who has maintained a zero-tolerance policy on illegal mining and mineral theft. The ministry reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s mineral resources and vowed to intensify enforcement across the country.

The Lagos refinery, the upcoming Nasarawa lithium plant, and the ongoing crackdown on illegal mineral operations reflect the government’s dual strategy: boosting local processing capacity to increase value addition while safeguarding Nigeria’s resources from theft and illicit trade.