Nigeria has confirmed a significant mining breakthrough, announcing a newly identified world-class polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State alongside an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves near Abuja. The disclosures were made at the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit 2026 in Abuja, where officials positioned the findings as a turning point in the country’s efforts to diversify beyond oil.
According to presentations at the summit and disclosures from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the discoveries reflect coordinated exploration between private firm Steron Mining and the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA). Officials argue the findings could reposition Nigeria within the global critical minerals supply chain at a time of intensifying competition for resources central to the energy transition.
Kaduna mineral province signals strategic shift
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said exploration has confirmed a high-grade polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State containing gold, nickel, copper, lithium, platinum group metals and rare earth elements.
The findings were verified by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) following joint exploration work with Steron Mining and Company Limited, according to disclosures made at the Abuja summit.
Alake described the deposit as ‘world-class’, saying it represents one of the most significant mineral confirmations in Nigeria’s recent exploration history and could help redefine the country’s long-term economic structure.
He added that Nigeria’s solid minerals sector has historically been underdeveloped compared with its oil industry, but that new geological data and private investment interest are beginning to shift that balance.
Abuja lithium discovery strengthens outlook
In a separate announcement, Steron Mining reported an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium at a mining site near Abuja.
Lithium is a strategically important mineral globally due to its role in producing batteries for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage systems and advanced electronics.
The scale of the Abuja deposit strengthens Nigeria’s emerging profile in the lithium market, particularly as global demand accelerates and supply chains remain heavily concentrated in a small number of producing countries.
Diversification push away from oil
The announcement comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to reduce dependence on crude oil, which still dominates export earnings and government revenue.
Speaking at the summit, Alake framed the discoveries as evidence that Nigeria’s mining sector could become a key pillar of future economic growth if regulatory reforms and investment conditions continue to improve.
Nigeria has recently stepped up efforts to formalise artisanal mining, improve licensing transparency and attract foreign direct investment into exploration and downstream processing.
Officials believe verified deposits such as Kaduna and Abuja could help shift investor perception of Nigeria from a largely untapped resource frontier to a credible emerging hub for critical minerals.
For context, earlier reforms and investment signals in the sector have been documented in Nigeria’s mining investment roadmap, which outlines efforts to strengthen regulatory frameworks and attract capital into solid minerals development.
Global competition for critical minerals
The discoveries come amid intensifying global competition for lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements, all essential to the global energy transition.
Countries across Africa, including Zimbabwe, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, are already expanding production capacity as demand from China, Europe and the United States continues to rise.
Nigeria’s entry into this market adds a new dimension to regional competition, particularly if exploration results are converted into commercially viable mining operations at scale.
This shift is part of a wider continental realignment reflected in Africa’s growing role in strategic resource supply chains, as explored in Africa’s critical minerals sector.
Investment potential and execution risks
While the discoveries are significant, analysts caution that Nigeria’s mining sector still faces structural challenges, including infrastructure deficits, security concerns in certain regions and regulatory uncertainty.
The government has signalled plans to strengthen oversight while encouraging private sector participation in exploration and development.
Steron Mining’s role in the discoveries underscores the increasing importance of public-private collaboration in validating mineral potential and attracting investment.
If developed successfully, the Kaduna mineral province and Abuja lithium reserves could draw substantial foreign investment into Nigeria’s emerging critical minerals sector.
Broader policy direction aligns with continental ambitions to unlock mineral value chains, as highlighted in Africa’s evolving critical minerals strategy.
Credit: Africabrieifng
