Shettima Tells Africa: Stop Exporting Raw Minerals, Build Industries

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on African countries to stop exporting raw mineral resources and instead process them locally to create jobs, industries and greater economic value for the continent.

Shettima delivered President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s address on Monday at the 3rd Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in New York, held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

Tinubu urged African nations to form an aggressive alliance that would move the continent from being a supplier of raw materials to a hub for processing, manufacturing and value addition. He identified minerals such as cobalt, copper, lithium and rare earth elements as increasingly important to global clean energy, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.

The President also called for stronger cooperation among African countries, harmonised policies, improved geological data, local processing and greater mobilisation of African capital.

He said Nigeria’s mineral revenues rose from about ₦6 billion in 2023 to over ₦38 billion in 2024 and between ₦68.1 billion and ₦70 billion in 2025, highlighting the potential for greater value from the sector.

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