The raw deal

Nigeria’s minister urged African countries to stop exporting raw minerals, promoting local processing to boost jobs and development, while announcing 867 new mining licences.

Jul 25, 2025

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At the 4th African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS 2025) in Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, urged African countries to assert sovereign control over natural resources by ending raw mineral exports and prioritising local processing and industrialisation. He emphasised that exporting unprocessed minerals deprives the continent of job creation, technological growth, and sustainable development. Alake also announced the issuance of 867 mining licences in Q1 2025, generating ₦6.95 billion in licensing revenue. This, he noted, reflects Nigeria’s ongoing mining sector reforms aimed at boosting economic returns and enhancing value addition across the supply chain.

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