Tinubu urges African nations to end exploitation of critical minerals

President Bola Tinubu has called on African countries to unite in protecting the continent’s mineral wealth, urging governments to prioritise local value addition and end the exploitation of Africa’s critical minerals by foreign interests.

The President made the call on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from the African Minerals Strategy Group at the State House in Abuja. The group, which comprises African ministers responsible for mining and solid minerals, is chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, while President Tinubu serves as its Grand Patron.

Speaking during the meeting, Tinubu said African nations must strengthen cooperation and speak with one voice to improve the continent’s bargaining power in the global minerals market.

“We must put an end to exploitation,” the President said, stressing that Africa should no longer allow its raw materials to be extracted without creating value, jobs, and technological advancement on the continent.

He urged member states to invest more in research, development, and mineral processing, arguing that Africa’s vast mineral resources should be used to drive industrialisation, economic growth, and prosperity for its people.

According to the President, the longstanding practice of exporting raw minerals without local beneficiation must be replaced by policies that encourage domestic processing, technology transfer, and the development of value chains capable of retaining wealth within African economies.

Tinubu also called for greater collaboration among African countries to establish a common framework for research and innovation in the mining sector, saying such efforts would help improve living standards across the continent.

Earlier, Alake commended the President for supporting reforms in Nigeria’s mining sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly efforts aimed at local value addition and economic diversification.