The Federal Government has announced the discovery of a world-class mineral province in Kaduna State containing significant deposits of platinum group metals, gold, nickel, copper, lithium and rare earth elements.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed the development on Wednesday during the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit 2026 in Abuja.
According to the minister, the discovery was verified by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency and is considered one of the most significant breakthroughs in Nigeria's mining sector in recent years.
Alake said the newly identified mineral province contains high-grade strategic minerals that are increasingly in demand globally for clean energy technologies, battery production and advanced manufacturing.
He noted that the discovery was made by a private company in collaboration with the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, adding that it positions Nigeria as an emerging destination for critical mineral investment.
The minister stated that the Federal Government is implementing reforms aimed at transforming the solid minerals sector into a major contributor to economic growth and industrialisation. He said the government is prioritising value addition and local processing over the export of raw minerals.
As part of the reforms, Alake revealed that more than 3,000 dormant mining licences have been revoked to improve transparency and ensure serious investment in the sector.
He also highlighted ongoing investments in mineral processing facilities across the country, including several lithium processing projects worth billions of dollars, as well as an iron ore-to-steel project in Kogi State.
According to the minister, revenue generated from the mining sector has risen significantly, increasing from about N6 billion before the current administration to over N70 billion by the end of 2025.
Meanwhile, Steron Mining and Company Limited announced that it has identified an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves at its mining site in Abuja. Company officials said ongoing exploration activities continue to reveal promising mineral deposits capable of supporting Nigeria's growing role in the global energy transition.
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