President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday in Abuja asked African leaders in the solid minerals sector to be patriotic in the management of the natural wealth of the continent and combat illegal exploitation.
Speaking when he received a delegation of African Ministers of Solid Minerals under the auspices of African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) led by the Chairman, Mr Dele Alake, at the State House, Tinubu urged the ministers to defend Africa against illegal exploiters of the continent’s mineral resources.
“We will lead the continent to self-realization on the value of our minerals and economic ingenuity, and this will occur as we free it from undue exploitation and abuse,’’ Tinubu said.
In his remarks, Mr Alake, who is the Minister of Solid Minerals, said the group was formed out of necessity and the realization of the “divide and rule tactics’’ that have weakened the negotiating power of African countries in the global market.
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He explained that among the various international fora held to strategize on solid minerals in Africa, the one in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, early in the year, brought up many issues, especially on the need for Africans to seize the opportunity that the global energy transition offers.
“The world needs critical metals for energy transition; green energy, and these critical metals are largely deposited in Africa. So, African nations and representatives at that Riyadh conference came together and decided that if we do not come together and speak with one voice, then those who have exploited Africans for centuries will continue to do so,’’ the minister said.
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