by Joel Ajayi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for stronger cooperation among African countries to end the export of raw minerals and ensure that the continent derives greater economic value from its vast mineral resources.
Tinubu made the call on Monday in New York during the third Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in Africa, held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President said Africa must move beyond its traditional role as a supplier of raw materials and develop local capacity for processing, refining, manufacturing and other forms of value addition.
The roundtable, chaired by Tinubu alongside Shettima and AMSG Chairman and Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, was themed: “From Resources to Wealth: Continental Cooperation for Mineral Value Addition, Data Sovereignty, Innovative Financing and Critical Minerals Security.”
Tinubu said Africa could not continue exporting its mineral wealth while communities where the resources are extracted remain deprived of jobs, infrastructure and economic opportunities.
He identified processing, refining, battery production, component manufacturing, technology transfer and skills development as key areas through which Africa could convert its mineral resources into sustainable wealth.
He identified processing, refining, battery production, component manufacturing, technology transfer and skills development as key areas through which Africa could convert its mineral resources into sustainable wealth.
According to him, the value of mining should be measured not only by revenue generated but also by the jobs, industries, infrastructure, technology and prosperity created for African communities.
The President also warned against competition among African countries through lower royalties, weak local-content requirements and excessive concessions, saying such fragmentation could undermine the continent’s bargaining position.
He advocated coordinated policies, integrated markets, shared infrastructure and stronger African financing mechanisms to improve the continent’s negotiating strength in the global critical-minerals market.
Tinubu said Nigeria would continue to pursue policies requiring greater local value addition, improved geological data, formalisation of artisanal mining and stronger measures against illegal mining.
He also urged AMSG members to speak with one voice in advancing Africa’s interests, stressing that partnerships with international investors should promote mutual benefit, technological development and African industrial capacity.
The meeting also adopted the Continental Integration and Economic Assurance Declaration (CIEAD), which Tinubu said should be backed by clear timelines, financing arrangements, implementation mechanisms and public accountability rather than remain merely a declaration.
Earlier in his remarks, Alake described CIEAD as a proposed framework for creating a unified continental architecture for Africa’s critical and solid-minerals value chains.
Earlier in his remarks, Alake described CIEAD as a proposed framework for creating a unified continental architecture for Africa’s critical and solid-minerals value chains.
He urged more African countries to join AMSG, arguing that greater cooperation would help align policies, resources, financing and infrastructure development across the continent.
Kenya’s Minister of Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hassan Ali Joho, also stressed the importance of domestic resource mobilisation, transparency and greater alignment of licensing procedures while respecting the sovereignty of individual member states.
Kenya’s Minister of Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hassan Ali Joho, also stressed the importance of domestic resource mobilisation, transparency and greater alignment of licensing procedures while respecting the sovereignty of individual member states.