Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged African countries to stop exporting raw mineral resources and focus on local processing to create jobs and industrial growth.
Shettima delivered President Bola Tinubu’s address on Monday at the 3rd Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in New York, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Tinubu called on African nations to form a strong alliance to transition from raw material suppliers to hubs for processing, manufacturing and value addition, noting that minerals such as cobalt, copper, lithium and rare earths are critical to clean energy, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.
He urged stronger cooperation among African countries through harmonised policies, improved geological data, local processing and mobilisation of African capital.
The President said Nigeria’s mineral revenues grew from about N6 billion in 2023 to over N38 billion in 2024 and between N68.1 billion and N70 billion in 2025, underscoring the sector’s potential for greater value.
