Ministry of Solid Minerals Development

MINISTRY OF SOLID MINERALS PRESS RELEASE NORTHERN ELDERS' FORUM ALLEGATION ON LOCATION OF GOLD REFINERY IN LAGOS: THE PARADE OF IGNORANCE IN THE SERVICE OF MISCHIEF The attention of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development @Solid_Min_Dev has been drawn to a statement credited to the Northern Elders Forum and signed by its spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere. The statement alleged that the Federal Government sited a gold refinery in Lagos and on that basis, criticized the location of the refinery as a violation of the principle of federal character. There is no iota of truth in the allegation. The new gold refinery is the initiative of @KianSmithCo , a 100 percent privately owned mining company which aims to facilitate the development of local gold industry through innovative practices. There was no where in the Minister of Solid Minerals announcement that the federal government owned or established a gold refinery in Lagos or anywhere for that matter ! The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake @AlakeDele was very clear, concise and emphatic in the announcement of the proposed commissioning of the refinery that other gold refineries are in the works across the country - and all privately owned by different companies. The Federal Government congratulates the founder and Managing Director, Nere Emiko for her doggedness in delivering a dream project after years of perseverance, enterprise and leadership. The refinery captures the response of the solid minerals sector to the policy of Value Addition enunciated by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development two years ago which discourages the export of raw minerals and localizes the processing and manufacturing of minerals. This policy has stimulated the conversion of raw minerals export to processing factories across the country, generating massive inflow of foreign capital and provision of thousands of jobs to Nigerians. These include the $600 million lithium plant in Nasarawa state, the $400 million rare earth plant also in Nasarawa State and the $200 million @ASBA lithium plant in Abuja. We are shocked at the debilitating degeneration in the quality of leadership of the NEF, an organisation that used to act as a think-tank of serious discourse decades ago, which, by its recent utterances has become a parody of its pioneers. How could the NEF expect the Federal Government to force a private company to locate its operations in a particular area of the federation when each company has its operational and marketing strategy to ensure its profitability? The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, through its policy reforms has been creating the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and flourish in the mining sector in the last two years and the Lagos gold refinery and others are eloquent testimonies to the efficacy of the solid minerals sector reforms. How could the NEF fail to conduct basic due diligence and research before displaying such embarrassing ignorance while purporting to act on behalf of the North, a region that boasts of accomplished academics and professionals? This negligence could only have been the result of deliberate mischief, orchestration of mistrust and acceleration of irresponsible militancy. The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development shall continue to encourage more mining companies to set up processing and manufacturing plants across the country. We urge NEF to turn a new leaf and join the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to build a stronger, self-reliant economy that meets the needs of the Nigerian people. Segun Tomori Special Assistant on Media to Minister of Solid Minerals #KemKem #SolidMineralsNG

Mining Cadastre Office Achieves Landmark 1Gov ECMS Onboarding, Setting New Standards in Transparency, Governance, and Revenue Performance The Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) @MiningCadNG has officially raised the bar for public sector reform within the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development by becoming the first agency under the ministry to fully onboard the Federal Government’s #1Gov Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS). The landmark launch, held on 12 December 2025 at the MCO headquarters in Abuja, was presided over by the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development @Solid_Min_Dev , Dr. Henry Dele Alake @AlakeDele , alongside the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, the Director-General of MCO, Engr. Obadiah Simon-Nkom @EngrNkom , and Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju @IbrahimAdeyanju , Head of Galaxy Backbone @Galaxybackbone , who commended the MCO for its pioneering efforts in digital governance, transparency, and sector reforms. This achievement is more than a technological upgrade, it is a declaration of transparency, efficiency, and public accountability. By fully integrating 1Gov ECMS, the MCO has eliminated paperwork, streamlined workflows, secured critical data, and modernised mineral title administration, delivering faster, more transparent licensing and regulatory processes. Though primarily a regulatory and oversight agency, not designed to generate revenue, the MCO has transformed its impact on Nigeria’s economic landscape through bold reforms and digital innovation: •Between January and April 2025, the MCO generated ₦10.9 billion, reflecting growing confidence in sector reforms and digital systems. •In Q1 2025 alone, revenue surpassed ₦6.95 billion, thanks to fully digitalised licensing and strategic fee administration. •As of December 2025, total collections reached ₦30.23 billion, demonstrating the powerful effect of digital transformation on compliance and investor engagement. All revenue collected is fully remitted to the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA), proving that transparency and accountability are at the heart of MCO operations. The MCO’s impact goes far beyond revenue: •Full deployment and sustained use of the electronic Mining Cadastre System (eMC+), modernising mineral title administration and enhancing transparency. •Migration from legacy systems to fully integrated digital databases, ensuring clean, accessible records. •Revocation of non-compliant titles and publication of title grants, enforcing statutory compliance and fairness. •Active participation in international mining conferences and investor forums, raising Nigeria’s global profile. •Strengthened inter-agency collaboration with CAC, EFCC, NFIU, and other bodies to ensure compliance, data integrity, and accountability. The success of the MCO is a direct reflection of visionary leadership. Engr. Obadiah Simon-Nkom, DG of the MCO, has demonstrated strategic execution, disciplined management, and institutional excellence, ensuring that the agency not only implements reforms but sets a national standard for governance and performance. At the same time, Honourable Minister Dr. Henry Dele Alake has provided the policy vision and reform framework that has made this transformation possible, crafting a roadmap for digital governance, transparency, and accountability that aligns fully with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Speaking at the launch, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, MD/CEO Galaxy Backbone, commended the MCO for leading by example, fully embracing digital transformation, and setting a new standard for public sector innovation. The Mining Cadastre Office’s achievements illustrate what bold leadership, strategic policy, and institutional commitment can accomplish. From being a purely regulatory body to becoming a driver of economic growth, efficiency, and investor confidence, the MCO has redefined public sector performance in Nigeria. #KemKem