Nigeria, a nation endowed with abundant natural resources, stands at the crossroads of economic development fueled majorly by the oil stream sector. Across the states – from the gold-rich landscapes of Zamfara to the coal mines of Enugu – lies untapped potential and resources.
This exploration delves into the data stories of 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, shedding light on the types of solid minerals within their borders, as well as the current status of their utilization in fostering sustainable economic growth and diversification.
Nigeria’s solid mineral sector witnessed dynamic growth in 2021, with key minerals contributing significantly to the nation’s economic landscape. Based on the data issued by the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Limestone emerged as the most abundant mineral in Nigeria. This is closely followed by granite, laterite, and sand.
Limestone – estimated production 44.7 million tons
Limestone is the most mined solid mineral in Nigeria with a substantial production increment in 2021. The total output reached 44.7 million tons, marking a remarkable 34.1% surge from the previous year’s figure of 29.3 million tons.
The primary limestone mining states contributing to these quantities include Ogun, Kogi, Cross Rivers, Edo, and Sokoto. Other contributing states include Benue, Gombe, Ebonyi, and Kwara. Most of the states with significant quantities of Limestone have established Cement factories. Limestone is the key raw material for cement production.
Granite – estimated production of about 22.3 million tons
Granite stands as the second most extracted solid mineral, registering a substantial uptick in 2021 with 22.3 million tons. This marked a noteworthy 40.7% increase from the 2020 figure of 9 million tons.
Granite widely used in the construction industry is mostly around areas where extinct volcanoes exist. States in the entire north-central region which includes Benue, Abuja FCT, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau are all endowed with various grades of granite.
Other Northern states with significant granite production include Adamawa, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Taraba, and Zamfara. Granite is mostly used as aggregate for construction as well as flooring, tabletop, and cladding of buildings. The estimated global market of granite stands at about USD 17399.05 million in 2022 according to a report published by the Business Street Magazine.
Coal – estimated production of about 1.4 million tons
Coal, the sixth-highest solid mineral, achieved a production milestone of 1.4 million tons in 2021, signifying a 48 % increase from the previous year’s 747,977 tons. Key coal mining states include Benue (1 million tons), Kogi (358 thousand tons), and Gombe (48 thousand tons).
Lithium – estimated production of about 524,742 tons
Lithium is one of the key minerals powering the renewable energy transition. It’s interesting to see that this mineral also exists in Nigeria and could be mined in economic quantities. Based on the data by the NBS, Lithium emerged as the eighth-highest produced solid mineral in Nigeria.
An estimated half a million tons was produced in 2021. Nasarawa state in central Nigeria currently plays host to the largest confirmed deposit and leads the pack in the quantity mined (about 99%).
Other states in Nigeria with sizable deposits and mining include Adamawa and Bauchi states both in the north-eastern part of the country. It will be interesting to see the first lithium battery production plant in Nigeria.
Lead/Zinc – estimated amount mined 153,255 tons
Lead/Zinc is another very important compound powering the renewable energy drive. Ranked ninth among the most prominent minerals mined in Nigeria, an estimated 153,255 tons was mined in the year 2021 according to the statistics by NBS.
This reflects a substantial increase of about 62% compared to the amount mined in 2020. Ebonyi and Plateau were the major contributing states, with 104,535 and 41,361 tons, respectively. Other contributing states include Nasarawa, Taraba, Benue, Bauchi, and Cross Rivers.
Gold – 40,132 tons
Gold, the latest addition to Nigeria’s major solid minerals, recorded a production of 40,132 tons in 2021. Key mining states include Kwara State (20,036), Zamfara, (9,549), Edo (6,300), and FCT (3,629) tonnes. Other mining states are Kebbi, Kogi, Kano, Osun, and Niger.
Other minerals with economic presence and mined in Nigeria include gypsum, Manganese, Feldspar, Laterite, Marble, clay, and sand. There has been a significant amount of precious stones mined across Nigeria.
In conclusion, Nigeria’s solid mineral industry, led by limestone and newer players like Lithium and Gold, showed strong growth, contributing to the country’s economic progress. This overview highlights the sector’s importance in Nigeria’s economy.
As the nation taps into its abundant mineral resources, the solid mineral sector is set to play a key role in ongoing efforts for sustainable economic development.
