Nigeria advocates for Lagos-Dakar minerals corridor to enhance Africa's mineral wealth control
via Punch Nigeria11 min read
Nigeria's Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Henry Dele Alake, and the African Development Bank AfDB have called for increased African control over the continent's mineral resources. Speaking at the Ministerial Forum on Critical Minerals, Value Chain and Beneficiation in Abidjan, C么te d鈥橧voire, Minister Alake proposed a West African minerals processing corridor from Lagos to Dakar, inspired by the Lobito Corridor. This initiative aims to prevent raw mineral export and promote local processing, fostering economic independence and regional cooperation. The forum, attended by over 20 ministers and representatives from financial institutions, emphasized moving beyond isolated national approaches to a coordinated strategy for mineral value addition. Alake, who is the pioneer chairman of the Africa Mineral Strategy Group, highlighted the need for shared infrastructure, regional value chains, and common standards. He also advocated for African sovereignty over mineral data and technical systems, urging the adoption of the Pan-African Resource Reporting Code to ensure transparency and ethical competence in resource certification. The proposed corridor would enable specialization, shared investment risks, and industrial cooperation, reducing the financial burden of individual processing facilities. The AfDB President, Sidi Ould Tah, underscored the contradictions in Africa's mineral wealth, including abundant opportunities versus inadequate financing. The forum concluded with the
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Big Brother Naija Season 11 housemate Abi disclosed that her husband initially opposed her decision to join the reality television show. She stated that he questioned her reasons for entering the competition and was not supportive when she first informed him of her plans. Despite his reservations, Abi proceeded with her decision to become a contestant. The married housemate expressed her intention to enjoy the experience, explore opportunities from the platform, and maximize her time in the house. Abi also revealed that she met her husband on TikTok, and their online connection developed into a relationship that led to marriage. She is currently seeking viewer support in the competition.
Algeria secured a 2-0 victory over Senegal in the opening match of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Melissa Bethi scored in the 88th minute following a blunder by Senegal goalkeeper Khady Faye. Earlier, Algeria's captain Marine Dafeur converted a penalty in the 42nd minute. The penalty decision, which involved minimal contact between Senegal captain Korka Fall and Amira Braham, was upheld after a VAR review. Algeria, ranked slightly higher than Senegal, gradually took control of the match after early pressure from Senegal. Morocco, the host nation, is scheduled to play Kenya in another Group A match. Record 10-time champions Nigeria will begin their campaign on Tuesday in Group C against Malawi.
The Nigerian Army has confirmed the arrest of Private Mohammed Yusuf, a soldier declared wanted for alleged involvement in supplying military accoutrements to terrorists and other criminal elements. Yusuf was apprehended by troops of the 7 Provost Group, Operation HADIN KAI, at Jidari Bus Stop, Maiduguri, on July 25, 2026, while reportedly attempting to escape to the Republic of Cameroon. The Acting Military Information Officer, North-East Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, Capt. Muhammed Goni, stated that preliminary investigations revealed Yusuf absconded from his unit on July 7, 2026, and subsequently went into hiding in Maiduguri. The Army had declared him wanted on July 23, 2026, over these allegations. Yusuf is currently in the custody of the 7 Provost Group, with further investigations ongoing to determine the full extent of his activities and identify any accomplices. The Army emphasized its commitment to holding personnel accountable and called on the public to provide timely information to security agencies.