Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has called on African countries to end decades of exporting mineral wealth without capturing sufficient value from processing, industrialisation and manufacturing.
Speaking on behalf of President Bola Tinubu at the Third Africa Minerals Strategy Group High-Level Roundtable in New York, Shettima said Africa could not regard itself as wealthy while communities located around mineral deposits remained poor.
He called for greater continental coordination, warning against African countries competing for investment through lower royalties, weaker local-content requirements and excessive concessions.
Instead, he advocated integrated markets, regional processing hubs and cross-border mineral corridors capable of giving Africa greater scale and strengthening its position in global mineral supply chains.
Shettima highlighted Nigeria’s mining reforms, including greater emphasis on local value addition, improved geological information, formalisation of artisanal miners and measures against illegal mining.
He also pointed to growing mining revenues and investments in lithium processing in Nasarawa State as examples of the opportunities presented by domestic beneficiation.
The Vice President backed the AMSG’s Mutual Assured Development (MADE) Framework, saying governments must provide predictable policies and credible institutions while investors should deliver responsible capital, technology transfer, local value and sustained commitment.
He also called for the Continental Integration and Economic Assurance Declaration to move beyond its signing ceremony into an implementation programme with clear timelines, financing and accountability.
Credit: channelstv.com
