The Federal Government has recorded a major breakthrough in its solid minerals sector following the discovery of a world-class polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State containing platinum group metals, gold, nickel, copper, lithium and rare earth elements.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, announced this on Wednesday.

Alake disclosed the development at the opening ceremony of the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit 2026 held in Abuja under the theme, ‘One Africa, One Resource Vision’.

The announcement came as Steron Mining and Company Limited unveiled an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves at its Abuja mining site during a facility tour organised for delegates attending the summit, highlighting the increasing pace of exploration activities and Nigeria’s push to move from raw mineral exports to value-added processing and manufacturing.

The minister described the discovery as one of the most significant developments in Nigeria’s mining industry in recent years, saying it was verified by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency and could significantly strengthen the country’s position in the global race for critical minerals.

He explained that the discovery was made by a private company working in collaboration with the agency.

Announcing the development for the first time publicly, Alake said the new mineral province contained exceptionally high-grade deposits of strategic minerals that are increasingly sought after globally for clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.

“Recently, and this is very, very important for newsmen and stakeholders to take note, this is the first time I am announcing this publicly. Recent exploration breakthroughs verified by our Nigerian Geological Survey Agency have unveiled a world-class polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State, consisting of world-class platinum group metals, precious and critical mineral deposits.

“The province is notable for significant deposits of gold, nickel, copper, lithium and rare earth elements of exceptionally high grades, positioning Nigeria among the emerging destinations for strategic mineral resources and sustainable mining investment.

“This is a new discovery by a private company assisted by our agency, the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency,” the minister stated.

The announcement came as Alake highlighted sweeping reforms being implemented by the Federal Government to reposition mining as a major contributor to economic growth and industrialisation.

According to him, the administration of President Bola Tinubu has identified the solid minerals sector as a strategic pillar of its economic diversification agenda, with policies deliberately designed to attract investment, encourage local processing and boost government revenues.

He said Nigeria was gradually abandoning the traditional model of exporting raw minerals in favour of domestic beneficiation and value addition.

“For too long, Nigeria’s mineral endowment did not translate into sufficient national value. The paradox was very clear: vast mineral potential but limited beneficiation, rising global demand but inadequate geological confidence, legal authority but weak enforcement, abundant activity but too much informality.

“That is precisely why the reforms we are implementing matter. We have focused on restoring discipline in licensing, strengthening compliance, improving transparency and ensuring that mineral assets are held by operators with the capacity and intention to develop them.

“We have had to revoke over 3,000 dormant and defaulting mineral titles as part of a broader clean-up aimed at discouraging speculation, freeing idle assets and restoring seriousness to licence holding,” he said.

The minister noted that value addition had become a central pillar of the government’s mining policy.

“We introduced a requirement that applicants for mining leases must submit detailed value-addition plans. This was deliberate. It sends a clear message that Nigeria will no longer be satisfied with a pit-to-port model in which raw minerals leave the country without leading to domestic transformation.

“We want mining investments that lead to processing plants, refineries, industrial clusters, local jobs, technology transfer and stronger linkages with the wider economy. We want to retain more value within Nigeria through processing, jobs, technology and manufacturing,” Alake stated.

He said the policy was already yielding tangible results, citing a wave of investments in lithium processing and mineral refining facilities across the country.

According to him, investors have committed billions of dollars to processing projects that are expected to alter the structure of Nigeria’s economy.

“This sector has witnessed growing interest in local processing projects, particularly in lithium and other strategic minerals. There is an $800m processing project investment in lithium. We have another $600m investment in a lithium processing factory in Nasarawa State.

“There is also a $200m lithium factory near Abuja that has been completed and is awaiting commissioning. We are currently looking at our calendar so that we can commission it. Another company has completed a $50m lithium factory in the Federal Capital Territory and is already adding a second layer of lithium refining.

“As we speak today, all kinds of lithium factories, gold refineries and processing facilities for other precious minerals are springing up across Nigeria solely because of the effectiveness of our local value-addition policy.

“There is also a $1bn iron ore-to-steel project in Kogi State. These are the types of midstream and downstream investments that begin to change the structure of an economy,” he added.

Alake further disclosed that government revenues from the mining sector had grown substantially since the reforms commenced.

He said revenue increased from about N6bn before the current administration took office to over N38bn in 2024 before crossing N70bn at the end of 2025.

“Our revenue performance has improved significantly. When this administration came into office, the sector generated roughly N6bn. A year later, we generated over N38bn and by the close of 2025 we had crossed the N70bn mark.

“You can see the geometric progression in revenue inflows from a sector that was generating barely N6bn before these reforms and before the creative re-engineering of the solid minerals sector,” he said.

The minister also stressed the need for African countries to collaborate more closely in developing their mineral resources, arguing that the continent’s future prosperity would depend on regional integration, value addition and industrialisation.

“The theme of this year’s summit reflects a fundamental truth: Africa’s resource future cannot be secured through fragmented action. Minerals, energy systems, infrastructure corridors, ports, skills and markets must increasingly speak to one another.

“The mining resources of one African country should be connected to processing capacity in another. Gas fields in one region should support industrial growth across borders. Mineral corridors should feed manufacturing, logistics and export opportunities.

“Africa has reached a point where resource ownership must give way to resource strategy. The urgent question is no longer what Africa possesses but what Africa is prepared to do with what it possesses,” he stated.

He urged investors to embrace partnerships that support local processing, skills transfer and community development.

“Nigeria’s message is direct and sincere. We are open for serious business. We welcome capital that builds. We welcome investors who understand that Africa is no longer asking to be treated merely as a source of raw materials.

“We welcome partners who are ready to process locally, employ locally, train locally, transfer technology locally, respect communities, operate transparently and build long-term value with us,” the minister added.

Meanwhile, participants at the summit visited Steron Mining and Company Limited’s lithium mining site in Abuja as part of efforts to showcase Nigeria’s growing mining industry and indigenous participation in critical minerals development.

During the tour, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Abu Omar, disclosed that Steron Mining had estimated lithium reserves of about 3.3 million metric tonnes at the site.

He explained that the company organised the tour to demonstrate how Nigerian firms are contributing to the country’s emergence as a major player in the global energy transition.

“We are honoured to host AFNIS and the African mining community on this excursion, showcasing what it looks like for a local Nigerian company to run a mining operation of this scale.

“We took the visitors through the entire mining cycle, from mineral occurrence and exploration to core drilling, identification of mineral veins, blasting, tunnelling and production. We demonstrated both our open-pit and underground mining operations,” Omar said.

The mining executive noted that the company initially operated as a granite quarry before discovering lithium deposits and later identifying occurrences of tantalite.

We have granite in abundance because it is the host rock here. That was our original focus. We later discovered lithium and have now identified occurrences of tantalite. Exploration activities are continuing and the prospects remain encouraging,” he said.

Describing lithium as one of the world’s most strategic minerals, Omar said demand would continue to rise due to the global shift towards renewable energy technologies.

“Lithium is used to power the future through batteries. That is where the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is heading. It remains one of the most reliable minerals supporting renewable energy systems globally,” he stated.

He added that the company was already processing lithium ore locally before export, in line with government policies promoting value addition.

“We add value by processing and separating waste materials from the ore. This allows us to increase purity levels from about one to three per cent to between six and seven per cent, making the product suitable for export and feeding nearby processing plants,” he said.

Also speaking, the company’s geologist, Bello Damulak, disclosed that exploration and drilling activities had revealed total mineral resources estimated at 94.8 million metric tonnes.

“So far, our exploration work has given us an estimated mineral resource of 94.8 million metric tonnes, including granite. The lithium reserve is estimated at 3.3 million metric tonnes, while granitic rock accounts for about 91.4 million metric tonnes.

“These figures are based on extensive exploration and core drilling programmes and will guide future mining operations at the site,” Damulak said.

The African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit is one of Africa’s leading platforms for discussions on mining, energy, infrastructure financing and resource development.

The annual gathering brings together government officials, investors, financiers, development partners and industry leaders to explore opportunities for unlocking Africa’s vast natural resource potential.

This year’s edition will focus on strengthening regional cooperation, promoting value addition, attracting investment into critical minerals and advancing industrialisation across the continent amid rising global demand for minerals essential to clean energy technologies, electric vehicles and battery storage systems. (The PUNCH)

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