Nigeria has announced one of its biggest mining discoveries in recent years, revealing a large polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State and an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves at a separate mining site near Abuja.
Officials made the announcements at the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit 2026 in Abuja, underscoring Nigeria’s efforts to grow its mining sector and reduce its dependence on oil.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake said the Kaduna discovery could strengthen Nigeria’s position in the growing global market for critical minerals used in clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.
Speaking publicly about the discovery for the first time, Alake called it an important moment for Nigeria’s mining industry. He said the high-grade deposits could help position the country as an emerging source of strategic minerals and attract more investment into the sector.
According to the minister, the newly identified mineral province contains high-grade deposits of platinum group metals, gold, nickel, copper, lithium, and rare earth elements.
“Recent exploration breakthroughs verified by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency have unveiled a world-class polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State, with significant deposits of gold, nickel, copper, lithium, and rare earth elements,” Alake said.
Alake said Steron Mining made the discovery in partnership with the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, which later verified the findings.
Steron Mining and Company Limited also announced that it has identified an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves at its mining site near Abuja.
The announcement comes as countries around the world compete to secure the critical minerals needed to produce electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy infrastructure, semiconductors, and defense technologies.
As governments continue to expand clean energy projects and diversify supply chains, lithium, nickel, platinum group metals, and rare earth elements have become increasingly important.
Although Nigeria has long been known for its large mineral resources, mining has contributed only a small share of the country’s economy compared with the oil sector.
If developed successfully, the Kaduna mineral province and the lithium reserves near Abuja could help Nigeria become a more important supplier of critical minerals as global demand continues to grow.
For one of Africa’s largest economies, the discoveries also present an opportunity to reduce reliance on oil revenues while building a mining industry that can compete in the global market for the minerals needed to support clean energy and advanced technologies.
source:africa.businessinsider.com
African Energy Council