Omanghana
Nigeria is poised to transform its mineral sector following the discovery of a world-class polymetallic mineral province rich in rare earth elements and other critical minerals, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to diversify its economy beyond crude oil.
The landmark discovery was officially announced on June 24, 2026, by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, during the opening ceremony of the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) 2026 held in Abuja.
Major Discovery in Kaduna State
According to the minister, the newly identified mineral province was discovered in Kaduna State by a private mining company working in collaboration with the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA).
Preliminary geological assessments indicate that the area contains exceptionally high-grade deposits of several strategic minerals that are increasingly vital to the global energy transition and advanced manufacturing industries.
Among the key resources identified are rare earth elements (REEs), which are essential components in the production of electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, high-performance electronics, defense systems, and other advanced industrial applications.
The province also contains substantial deposits of lithium, nickel, copper, gold, and platinum group metals, positioning Nigeria as a potentially significant supplier of critical minerals to international markets.
Additional 3.3 Million-Tonne Lithium Discovery
Further strengthening Nigeria’s growing mining potential, Steron Mining and Company Limited announced the discovery of an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves at a separate mining site near the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The lithium find represents another major milestone for the country’s critical minerals industry, as global demand for battery-grade lithium continues to rise with the expansion of electric vehicle production and renewable energy storage technologies.
Driving Value Addition in the Mining Sector
The discoveries align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s strategy to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil while ending the long-standing practice of exporting raw mineral resources without local processing.
Under the government’s revised mining policy, newly discovered strategic minerals will be required to undergo processing and beneficiation within Nigeria before export. The policy is intended to increase domestic value addition, create skilled employment, strengthen local manufacturing, and generate greater economic returns from the country’s mineral wealth.
Investment in Processing Infrastructure
To support the new policy direction, the government is advancing major industrial investments aimed at expanding the country’s mineral processing capacity.
Among the flagship projects is a planned $400 million rare earth processing facility expected to handle up to 18,000 tonnes of material annually. The plant is designed to enable local refining of rare earth minerals, reducing dependence on foreign processing facilities while positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global critical minerals supply chain.
The twin discoveries of rare earth elements and large-scale lithium reserves underscore Nigeria’s growing ambitions to become one of Africa’s leading producers of strategic minerals, opening new opportunities for investment, industrial development, and long-term economic diversification beyond the oil sector.
Source: Omanghana
