Tinubu Calls for Fair Benefits from Africa’s Critical Minerals at G20 Summit

Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called on global leaders at the 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg to establish a just and fair global framework that guarantees equitable benefits for African communities hosting critical minerals. Tinubu stressed that Africa’s vast mineral resources, essential to global industrial transformation, must translate into sustainable economic prosperity for the continent, particularly the local populations directly impacted by mining activities.

Speaking at the summit—the first held on African soil—Tinubu emphasized that while Africa possesses some of the richest reserves of critical minerals, the current global system allows for raw exportation with minimal value addition on the continent. He urged G20 member states and international partners to support policies that promote local beneficiation, transparency in mineral trade, and social protections for mining communities. The Nigerian leader highlighted that the continent’s future economic transformation depends on capturing greater value through in-country processing and fair trade practices.

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The call for reforms aligns with broader African initiatives, including the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which seeks to boost intra-continental trade and move beyond dependence on raw mineral exports. The G20 leaders collectively acknowledged the importance of critical minerals, endorsing access frameworks and debt relief measures to support sustainable development.

This advocacy from Tinubu underscores Nigeria’s active role in shaping global economic policies and championing Africa’s interests in international forums