Tinubu Urges Africa to End Raw Mineral Exports, Pushes for Value Addition and Industrial Growth
President Bola Tinubu has called on African countries to unite in ending the long-standing exploitation of the continent’s mineral resources by prioritising local value addition and industrial development. Speaking during a meeting with delegates of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) at the State House in Abuja, the President stressed that Africa must stop being viewed merely as a supplier of raw materials while other regions reap the benefits of processing and manufacturing.
Tinubu urged member states to strengthen collaboration and adopt a common strategy that would increase Africa’s bargaining power in the global minerals market. According to him, the continent possesses enormous reserves of critical minerals that can drive industrialisation, technological advancement, job creation, and economic prosperity if properly managed. He insisted that African nations should invest more in research, refining, and knowledge-based industries capable of transforming natural resources into higher-value products.
The President further emphasised that the era of exporting raw minerals without beneficiation must come to an end. He argued that wealth generated from Africa’s mineral resources should remain within the continent through local processing, technology transfer, and the development of strong industrial value chains. Tinubu noted that such an approach would not only enhance economic growth but also improve the quality of life for millions of Africans.
Chairman of the African Minerals Strategy Group and Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, praised Tinubu’s leadership in promoting local value addition within the mining sector. Alake revealed that several African countries have already begun implementing policies that restrict the export of raw minerals, reflecting a growing continental shift toward beneficiation and resource-based industrialisation. He added that discussions at the ongoing African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS 2026) are centred on building a unified African vision for resource management and economic transformation.
Meanwhile, indigenous mining firm Steron Mining and Company Limited announced that it has identified an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves at its Abuja mining site. Company executives said the discovery could strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global energy transition, as lithium remains a key component in battery production and renewable energy technologies. The company also disclosed that ongoing exploration activities have uncovered additional mineral resources, reinforcing the growing importance of Nigeria’s mining sector in Africa’s industrial future.
source: arise