FACT CHECK: Has FG started a gold refinery in Lagos as posted on pro-Tinubu pages?

Claiming: The federal government started a gold refinery in Lagos earlier this year.

Indictment: Misleading.

Full Text:A claim posted on a pro-Tinubu Facebook page confirmed that the federal government had set up a gold refinery in Lagos State earlier this year.

The post was made to promote President Bola Tinubu’s administration and reinforce the new hope agenda and “wealth creation” goal.

The post received reactions from 5.6 thousand followers, some praising the president while others criticized the government.

Some comments pointed to the job opportunities and economic growth that the “gold refinery” would bring to Nigerians, but others were quick to state that the government “cannot fix the oil refinery.”

The post has engaged more than 5 thousand Facebook users, with more than 1 thousand comments.

Verification: Ripples Nigeria reports that the claim follows a similar statement by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) in early January.

NEF claimed that the government violated the federal character principle by citing the gold refinery in Lagos.

However, Segun Tomori, special media assistant to Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, revealed that “the new gold refinery is an initiative of Kian Smith, a 100 percent privately owned mining company that aims to facilitate the development of the local gold industry through innovative practices”.

Nigerian Ripple gather that the company registered in 2011 had received a gold refining license in 2018, under the administration of the late former president Muhammadu Buhari.

Company details. Source: CAC and NgCheck

Conclusion

The gold refinery is not owned by the federal government as claimed. The refinery is owned by a private company and was licensed before the current government came into existence.

By: Quadri Yahya