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The Nigerian Government has announced the discovery of a major polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State containing platinum group metals, gold, nickel, copper, lithium and rare earth elements, describing it as one of the most significant breakthroughs in Nigeria’s mining sector in recent years.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit 2026.
The announcement came shortly after delegates at the summit toured a mining facility operated by Steron Mining and Company Limited in Abuja, where the company unveiled an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves.
Alake said the discovery, which was verified by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, could strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global market for critical minerals used in clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.
According to the minister, the newly identified mineral province was discovered by a private company working in collaboration with the geological agency and contains high-grade deposits of several strategic minerals.
He revealed that recent exploration activities had uncovered a world-class polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State with substantial deposits of platinum group metals, alongside gold, nickel, copper, lithium and rare earth elements. He noted that the quality of the deposits places Nigeria among emerging destinations for strategic mineral resources and sustainable mining investments.
“This is 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,” Alake said.
“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.”
Alake said the discovery reflects ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s mining industry and move away from the long-standing practice of exporting raw minerals without significant local processing.
He argued that despite the country’s vast mineral wealth, limited beneficiation, weak geological confidence and a largely informal operating environment had prevented the sector from delivering its full economic value.
“For too long, Nigeria’s mineral endowment did not translate into sufficient national value,” the minister said.
“The paradox was very clear: vast mineral potential but limited beneficiation, rising global demand but inadequate geological confidence, legal authority but weak enforcement, and abundant activity but too much informality.”
According to him, investors have now committed billions of dollars to mineral processing projects expected to transform the structure of the economy.
Speaking during the facility tour, the Chief Executive Officer of Steron Mining and Company Limited, Abu Omar, said the company had identified about 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium at the site.
Omar explained that the company initially operated as a granite quarry before discovering lithium deposits and later identifying tantalite occurrences within the area.
He said granite remains abundant at the site because it serves as the host rock, adding that exploration activities are still ongoing and that prospects for additional discoveries remain promising.
