The Federal Government of Nigeria has called for a continental push to end the historical exploitation of Africa's critical mineral resources. This call was made during the AMSG High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in Africa, held on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The roundtable, convened by Vice President Kashim Shettima and AMSG Chairman Dr. Dele Alake, focused on transforming Africa's mineral wealth into sustainable economic growth.
Vice President Shettima told African leaders and stakeholders that the continent cannot claim to be wealthy while its children wallow in poverty. He regretted that mineral-rich communities lack infrastructure, jobs, and a stake in their own wealth. With global demand for clean energy, AI, and advanced manufacturing, Africa's critical minerals like cobalt, copper, lithium, and rare earth elements have become indispensable to global supply chains and economic security.
Shettima proposed that the answer to such deprivation lies in processing, refining, batteries, components, African technologies, and competitive skills. He noted that the worth of a mine must be counted in the lives it improves. However, he warned that no African country can achieve this alone and that competing through lower royalties, weaker local content, and excessive concessions would only weaken the continent's negotiating power.
Shettima shared Nigeria's experience, stating that the country must require local value addition for new mining licences, strengthen geological data and investor access, organise artisanal miners into cooperatives, combat illegal mining, and improve regulatory accountability. He offered this experience for adaptation across the continent, calling for reliable partnerships grounded in mutual benefit, shared responsibility, sovereign equality, and respect for priorities.
The Vice President also called for the adoption of the Continental Integration and Economic Assurance Declaration (CIEAD), a landmark continental framework designed to establish a unified architecture for Africa's critical and solid minerals value chains. This declaration aims to establish a predictable, investment-ready environment for Africa's Strategic Mineral Corridors, harmonised policies, responsible investment, and shared infrastructure.
Dr. Dele Alake, AMSG Chairman, said the group is proposing CIEAD as a framework to unite African nations in protecting their mineral resources. The declaration is expected to promote continental cooperation for mineral value addition, data sovereignty, innovative financing, and critical minerals security. By adopting this declaration, African nations can work together to transform their mineral wealth into sustainable economic growth.
The Nigerian government's call for African unity to protect mineral resources comes as the continent seeks to assert its position in the global economy. With Africa's critical minerals playing a crucial role in global supply chains, the continent must work together to ensure that its resources are harnessed in a way that benefits its people and promotes sustainable economic growth.
Key points
- Nigeria urges African nations to unite and halt export of raw materials.
- The continent's mineral wealth must be transformed into sustainable economic growth.
- African nations must work together to protect their mineral resources and assert their position in the global economy.
