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The Federal Government has announced the discovery of a major mineral-rich zone in Kaduna State containing significant deposits of lithium, platinum group metals, gold, nickel, copper and rare earth elements.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed the development on Wednesday during the opening of the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) 2026 in Abuja.
According to the minister, the discovery was verified by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) and is regarded as one of the most important breakthroughs in Nigeria’s mining sector in recent years.
Alake said the newly identified polymetallic mineral province contains high-grade strategic minerals that are in growing demand globally for clean energy technologies, battery production and advanced manufacturing.
He explained that the discovery was made by a private exploration company working in collaboration with the NGSA.
“Recent exploration breakthroughs verified by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency have unveiled a world-class polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State,” the minister said.
He noted that the province hosts substantial deposits of platinum group metals, gold, nickel, copper, lithium and rare earth elements, positioning Nigeria as an emerging destination for critical mineral investments.
The minister said the development aligns with the Federal Government’s efforts to transform the solid minerals sector into a major driver of economic diversification and industrial growth.
According to him, the Tinubu administration has introduced reforms aimed at attracting investment, improving regulatory compliance and promoting local value addition in the mining industry.
Alake stated that Nigeria is moving away from the export of raw minerals and encouraging investors to establish processing and refining facilities within the country.
As part of the reforms, he disclosed that more than 3,000 dormant and non-performing mineral licences had been revoked to discourage speculation and free up assets for serious investors.
He added that mining lease applicants are now required to submit value-addition plans, a policy designed to encourage the establishment of processing plants, refineries and industrial clusters.
The minister said the strategy was already attracting substantial investments into lithium processing and mineral refining projects across the country.
He cited ongoing investments, including an $800 million lithium processing project, a $600 million lithium processing facility in Nasarawa State, and a $200 million lithium factory near Abuja awaiting commissioning.
According to him, another company has completed a $50 million lithium processing plant in the Federal Capital Territory and has commenced expansion plans.
Alake also revealed that government revenue from the mining sector has risen sharply under the reforms, increasing from about N6 billion before the current administration to more than N70 billion by the end of 2025.
He stressed the need for stronger collaboration among African countries in developing their mineral resources, arguing that regional partnerships would enhance industrialisation and economic growth across the continent.
Meanwhile, delegates attending the summit visited a lithium mining site operated by Steron Mining and Company Limited in Abuja.
During the tour, the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abu Omar, disclosed that the site contains an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves.
He said the facility was opened to delegates to showcase the role of indigenous firms in developing Nigeria’s critical minerals sector.
Omar explained that the company operates both open-pit and underground mining systems and has continued to expand exploration activities at the site.
He noted that the company initially focused on granite extraction before discovering commercially viable lithium deposits and later identifying occurrences of tantalite.
Describing lithium as a critical mineral for the global energy transition, he said demand would continue to grow due to its importance in battery production and renewable energy technologies.
Omar added that the company currently processes lithium ore locally to improve purity levels before export, in line with the Federal Government’s value-addition policy.
Also speaking, the company’s geologist, Bello Damulak, said exploration and drilling activities had established total mineral resources of about 94.8 million metric tonnes at the site.
According to him, the figure includes an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves and about 91.4 million metric tonnes of granitic rock.
The discoveries and ongoing investments underscore Nigeria’s ambition to become a major player in the global critical minerals market while boosting local processing, industrialisation and job creation.
