President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, on his re-election as Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategic Group (AMSG), a coalition of African ministers overseeing mining and solid minerals development across the continent.

The AMSG seeks to maximise the benefits accruing to Africans from the continent’s vast mineral endowment through cooperation, policy alignment, and strategic engagement in the global minerals market.

Alake was first elected in 2024 on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) and was re-elected at the group’s 2026 Annual General Meeting, held alongside the same conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

President Tinubu described the re-election as a strong vote of confidence in Alake’s visionary leadership, unwavering commitment, and strategic advocacy for Africa’s minerals sector.

He noted that under Alake’s chairmanship, the AMSG has sustained a unified and influential African voice, advancing collaboration, safeguarding mineral resources, and positioning the continent as a critical player in the global energy transition and the value chain for critical minerals.

The President also commended the Minister for aligning the objectives of the AMSG with Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly efforts to unlock the country’s solid minerals potential, attract sustainable investment, create jobs, and ensure that mineral wealth delivers tangible socio-economic benefits for Africans.

“I congratulate Dele Alake for sustaining the confidence and trust of his colleagues across Africa, who have renewed his leadership of their forum.

“His commitment and pan-African vision to ensure our continent derives the greatest benefits from its mineral resources are commendable. As Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals, he has led a reform agenda that is transforming the sector into a major contributor to our national economy,” President Tinubu said.

The President assured Alake of the Federal Government’s continued support as he leads the AMSG to deepen cooperation among African nations, strengthen institutional frameworks, and promote transparency, sustainability, and inclusiveness in the minerals sector.

In other news, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) has dismissed claims by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) alleging that the Federal Government sited a gold refinery in Lagos in violation of the federal character principle.

The Ministry described the allegation, contained in a statement signed by NEF spokesperson Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, as false and misleading, stressing that there is no federal government–owned gold refinery in Lagos or anywhere else in the country.

According to the Ministry, the newly established gold refinery referenced by NEF is a private-sector initiative of Kian Smith, a 100 per cent privately owned mining company. The refinery was developed to support the growth of Nigeria’s local gold industry through innovation and value addition.