Dele Alake, the minister of solid minerals and development has said that Nigeria’s gold is being mined and exported to the United Arab Emirates illegally.
Alake while receiving the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Al Shamsi, in his office in Abuja on Tuesday said the significant volume of the illegal trade currently ongoing undermines the possible partnership between both countries.
He called for an enhanced trade relations between Nigeria and UAE to ensure adequate economic growth.
His words, “While there is considerable trade in gold, much of it remains illegal, with a large portion of Nigerian gold ending up in the UAE unlawfully.
“We propose working together to develop strategies to curb illegal gold trade and establish a regulatory framework that legitimises this trade, allowing both countries to maximize their benefits,” the minister added.
