EXECUTIVE SUMMARY –
Nigeria has announced the discovery of a world-class polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State alongside an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves, strengthening its ambition to become a leading supplier of critical minerals for clean energy and advanced manufacturing. The discovery, verified by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, supports the government’s strategy of promoting local mineral processing, value addition, and investment rather than exporting raw ores.
Keywords: Nigeria, Lithium, Critical minerals, Rare earth elements, Platinum group metals, Kaduna, Mineral discovery, Mining investment, Value addition, Mineral processing, Energy transition, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Sustainable mining, Resource development.
26 June 2026 12:31 PM
Nigeria has announced what could be one of its most significant mining discoveries in recent years, unveiling a world-class polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State while also revealing an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves at a separate mining site near Abuja.
Nigeria unveils world-class mineral discovery as new 3.3 million-tonne lithium reserve comes to light [Cynthia R Matonhodze/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
- Nigeria announced a major discovery of a polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State and an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves near Abuja.
- The discoveries were revealed at the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit as part of Nigeria’s strategy to diversify its economy beyond oil.
- The Kaduna site contains high-grade platinum group metals, gold, nickel, copper, lithium, and rare earth elements, verified by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency.
- These findings position Nigeria as a potential new hub for critical minerals, attracting global investors and supporting government reforms to formalize and regulate mining
The twin announcements were made at the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit 2026 in Abuja, highlighting the country’s growing ambition to position mining as a major pillar of economic diversification beyond oil.
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake described the Kaduna discovery as a landmark breakthrough that could elevate Nigeria’s standing in the rapidly expanding global market for critical minerals used in clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.
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Unveiling the discovery publicly for the first time, Alake described it as a milestone for Nigeria’s mining sector, saying the exceptionally high-grade deposits could position the country among emerging global hubs for strategic minerals and sustainable mining investment.
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 the discovery was made by a private company (Steron Mining) in collaboration with the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), which subsequently verified the findings.
A boost to Nigeria’s critical minerals ambitions
Alongside the Kaduna announcement, Steron Mining and Company Limited disclosed that it has identified an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves at its Abuja mining site.
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The announcement comes as countries around the world intensify competition for critical minerals needed to manufacture electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy infrastructure, semiconductors, and defence technologies.
Lithium, nickel, platinum group metals and rare earth elements have become increasingly valuable as governments accelerate the global energy transition and seek to diversify supply chains away from traditional producers.
Nigeria has long been recognized for its vast untapped mineral wealth, but the sector has historically contributed only a small share of the country’s gross domestic product compared with crude oil.
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If successfully developed, the newly discovered mineral province in Kaduna and the lithium reserves near Abuja could mark an important step in Nigeria’s efforts to become a leading supplier of critical minerals at a time when global demand continues to rise.
For one of Africa’s largest economies, the discoveries also represent an opportunity to reduce its reliance on oil revenues while building a mining sector capable of competing in the global race for the resources powering the next generation of clean energy and advanced technologies.
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