Critical Minerals Exploitation must come to an end if Africa is to fully benefit from its vast natural resources, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared.
The President made the call on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He urged African countries to unite and pursue a common strategy that prioritises value addition, industrialisation and economic growth across the continent.
Speaking as Grand Patron of the organisation, President Tinubu stressed that Africa must no longer be treated as a mere supplier of raw materials to the rest of the world while other nations reap the benefits of processing and industrial production.
According to him, ending critical minerals exploitation requires stronger collaboration among African nations, increased investment in research and development, and the establishment of industries capable of processing minerals locally.
“What we should do is avoid bureaucracy and deceit; we must put an end to exploitation. The rest of the world won’t mind if your country is a cesspit of dams and rubbish and excavates your raw materials without giving value,” the President said.
Tinubu noted that African countries have a collective responsibility to ensure that the continent’s mineral wealth creates jobs, attracts technology and improves the quality of life for citizens.
He explained that Africa possesses enormous deposits of strategic minerals that are increasingly important to global industries, particularly in technology, manufacturing and renewable energy.
The President argued that exporting raw minerals without processing them locally deprives African economies of valuable revenue, employment opportunities and technological advancement.
He therefore called for a new continental approach that prioritises beneficiation, local processing and value chain development within Africa.
President Tinubu further urged member states of the African Minerals Strategy Group to strengthen their bargaining position in the global mineral market and ensure that international partnerships deliver meaningful benefits to African nations.
According to him, investment in research, innovation and refinery infrastructure will help African countries capture greater value from their natural resources while reducing dependence on foreign processing facilities.
The President added that Africa’s mineral resources should serve as a catalyst for industrialisation, economic diversification and sustainable development across the continent.
Earlier, Chairman of the African Minerals Strategy Group and Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, commended President Tinubu for his leadership and support for reforms within the mining sector.
Alake said the President’s emphasis on local value addition and economic diversification has inspired several African countries to adopt similar policies aimed at retaining more benefits from their mineral resources.
He disclosed that some member countries have already introduced restrictions on the export of raw minerals as part of efforts to encourage domestic processing and industrial development.
The minister explained that the group’s core objective is to ensure that Africa derives maximum value from its critical minerals while strengthening economic cooperation among member states.
According to him, the vision championed by President Tinubu has become a major talking point across the continent, with governments increasingly embracing local beneficiation policies.
Alake also informed the President that members of the African Minerals Strategy Group are currently participating in the Fifth African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS 2026) in Abuja.
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The summit, themed “One Africa, One Resource Vision,” seeks to position Africa as a leading player in the global critical minerals value chain through strategic cooperation, industrialisation and sustainable resource management.
Industry stakeholders believe that the growing demand for critical minerals used in electric vehicles, batteries and clean energy technologies presents a unique opportunity for Africa to transform its economies and create millions of jobs.
Observers also note that stronger continental cooperation could help African countries negotiate better terms with international investors and secure greater benefits from their natural resources.
As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, President Tinubu maintained that Africa must remain united and focused on policies that promote prosperity, technological advancement and long-term economic growth.
