President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for a coordinated African effort to end the export of raw mineral resources and accelerate local processing, manufacturing and value addition across the continent.
Tinubu made the call in New York on Monday during the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in Africa, held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The President, who was represented at the meeting by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said Africa's vast mineral resources must be transformed into jobs, industries, infrastructure, technology transfer and greater economic opportunities for communities across the continent.
He stressed that individual African countries could not achieve the required transformation alone, urging member states to cooperate on mineral value chains, financing, infrastructure, technology and market integration.
The roundtable, themed “From Resources to Wealth: Continental Cooperation for Mineral Value Addition,” is focused on strengthening Africa's position in the global critical-minerals economy and moving the continent away from an extract-and-export model.
Tinubu said African countries must speak with one voice in protecting their collective interests and ensure that mineral resources extracted from the continent generate greater economic value within Africa.
He called for increased investment in processing facilities, manufacturing capacity, research and development, infrastructure and technology partnerships.
The President also highlighted reforms in Nigeria's mining sector, including efforts to promote local value addition, improve geological data, formalise artisanal mining, strengthen regulation and tackle illegal mining.
According to the figures presented by the President, Nigeria's mining revenue increased from approximately ₦6 billion in 2023 to more than ₦38 billion in 2024, before rising to between ₦68.1 billion and ₦70 billion in 2025.
Tinubu's position is consistent with his earlier call for African countries to work together to ensure that the continent does not remain merely a supplier of raw materials to the rest of the world. In June, he urged the AMSG to strengthen Africa's bargaining power and promote local processing and value addition.
The New York meeting also considered the proposed Continental Integration and Economic Assurance Declaration (CIEAD), designed to provide a coordinated framework for Africa's critical and solid mineral value chains.
The proposed framework is expected to support cooperation around mineral processing, strategic infrastructure, investment mobilisation, technology, supply chains and policy coordination.
AMSG has previously said individual national measures restricting exports of unprocessed minerals would not be sufficient on their own, arguing that Africa needs integrated processing hubs, transport and energy corridors, harmonised policies and financing mechanisms to build competitive mineral value chains.
The group has pointed to moves by countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Tanzania to restrict exports of unprocessed or minimally processed minerals as part of a wider continental shift towards retaining more value from natural resources within Africa.
Shettima is currently leading Nigeria's delegation to the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on Tinubu's mandate.
The Vice President is expected to deliver Nigeria's national statement and participate in high-level meetings and bilateral engagements focused on issues including economic development, climate action, global financial architecture reform and international cooperation.
The mineral roundtable forms part of broader efforts by African governments and institutions to secure a greater role for the continent in global critical-mineral supply chains as demand grows for resources needed in manufacturing, energy technologies and advanced industries.
Tinubu's call places continental cooperation, local processing and industrial development at the centre of Africa's strategy for turning its mineral wealth into jobs, investment and long-term economic value.
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