- Nigeria demands fairness in global critical minerals trade.
- Shettima says transparency and value addition must start at the source.
- Nigeria pushes for ethical AI rules that prevent inequality.
- Tinubu calls for financial reforms to support developing nations.
Nigeria has asked G20 leaders to support a fair global system for critical minerals, insisting that resource-rich African communities must receive real economic benefits instead of being sidelined while global industries grow from their land.
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, Vice President Kashim Shettima said Africa’s natural wealth should serve as a foundation for industrial progress, not another chapter of unequal exchange. The statement, released by presidential aide Stanley Nkwocha, stressed that many African communities remain poor despite supplying minerals that power global technologies.
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Shettima warned that owning resources without strong systems does not translate to prosperity. He said Africa needs transparency, accountability, and a structure that ensures value addition takes place within the continent so that host communities are not excluded from the gains.
Speaking on the summit theme, “A Fair and Just Future for All,” the Vice President highlighted Nigeria’s investment in technology and vocational training under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He said the focus is to make economic transitions people-centred, noting that decent work is essential for inclusive growth.
The Nigerian delegation also pushed for global ethical standards on artificial intelligence, saying AI must not widen inequality. President Tinubu argued that AI should strengthen development, create jobs, and remain accessible to all, not become a tool that deepens global divides. He said only strong cooperation between advanced and developing nations can prevent bias and technological exclusion.
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Turning to global finance, Tinubu told G20 leaders that the current financial structure no longer reflects the realities faced by developing economies. He warned that persistent debt pressures limit growth and weaken trade, stressing the need for a more balanced and responsive system that genuinely supports financial inclusion.
He urged the summit to prioritise debt sustainability and responsible mineral governance, saying Africa cannot shift its development trajectory without renewed commitment from the G20. Nigeria emphasised that the continent seeks a future where it is not merely a supplier of raw minerals but a region where value creation, innovation and prosperity originate.
