Africa’s Raw Minerals Take Centre Stage at UNGA

Nigeria has joined a growing African push to ensure the continent gets greater economic value from its mineral resources.

At an Africa Minerals Strategy Group meeting in New York, Shettima called for African countries to reduce dependence on exporting raw minerals.

The Nigerian government says Africa should develop processing and manufacturing capacity around critical minerals instead of exporting them in largely unprocessed form.

The issue is becoming increasingly important as demand rises globally for minerals used in batteries, renewable energy systems, electronics and other technologies.

MONAFRIKA TAKE:
The mineral question is no longer just about what Africa owns. It is about who processes it, who creates the jobs and who receives the largest share of the economic value.