President Bola Tinubu has called on African nations to unite in protecting their mineral resources, urging an end to the exploitation of critical minerals and advocating increased local value addition, industrialisation and economic transformation across the continent.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on African countries to unite in safeguarding the continent’s vast mineral wealth, stressing the need to end the exploitation of critical minerals and ensure Africa derives greater value from its natural resources.
The President made the call on Tuesday while receiving a delegation of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) at the State House, Abuja.
AMSG, a forum comprising African ministers responsible for mining and solid minerals development, has President Tinubu as its Grand Patron. The group is currently chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake.
Addressing the delegation, Tinubu said African nations must strengthen collaboration and speak with one voice to advance the continent’s collective interests in the global minerals market.
He warned against a situation where Africa remains merely a supplier of raw materials while other regions reap the benefits of processing, technology transfer and industrial development.
“We must put an end to exploitation. The rest of the world will not mind if your country is left with environmental degradation while your raw materials are extracted without adding value to your economy,” the President said.
According to him, African countries have a responsibility to work together to ensure that their mineral resources generate wealth, create jobs, support technological advancement and improve the quality of life of their citizens.
Tinubu emphasised the importance of investing in research, development and mineral refining capacity across the continent, noting that Africa possesses the human and natural resources required to drive a knowledge-based economy.
He urged member states to explore mechanisms for centralising strategic conversations on mineral development and industrialisation to strengthen Africa’s bargaining position globally.
The President noted that the continent’s enormous mineral wealth should be strategically harnessed to accelerate industrial growth, economic diversification and sustainable development.
He further stressed that the era of exporting raw minerals without local processing must come to an end, advocating policies that encourage beneficiation, local manufacturing, technology transfer and stronger value chains.
According to Tinubu, retaining more stages of mineral processing within Africa would significantly increase revenue generation and create broader economic opportunities for African countries.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of AMSG and Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, commended President Tinubu for providing strategic leadership and policy direction that have strengthened Nigeria’s mining sector.
Alake said the administration’s emphasis on local value addition, economic diversification and support for artisanal miners had become a model that several African countries are beginning to adopt.
“You encouraged us to ensure that local value addition becomes the foundation of the organisation’s objectives and activities. We have implemented that vision, and today local value addition is gaining momentum across Africa,” Alake said.
He disclosed that some African countries have already introduced policies restricting the export of raw minerals in a bid to maximise domestic economic benefits from their natural resources.
Alake also informed the President that AMSG members were in Abuja for the Fifth African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS 2026).
The summit, themed “One Africa, One Resource Vision,” is expected to advance discussions on a unified continental strategy for mineral development, industrialisation and resource management.
According to the minister, the gathering seeks to position Africa as a leading player in the global critical minerals value chain through strategic cooperation, beneficiation and sustainable industrial development.
He reaffirmed AMSG’s commitment to protecting Africa’s resource interests and increasing the value and revenue generated from the continent’s mineral sector.
Observers say the growing focus on local mineral processing reflects a broader shift across Africa towards resource nationalism and industrial policies designed to retain greater economic benefits within the continent.
The renewed push comes amid increasing global demand for critical minerals used in renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, batteries and advanced manufacturing, placing Africa at the centre of the evolving global energy transition.
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