Nigeria possesses a wide range of Mineral resources, including precious metals, various stones, and industrial minerals like Barites, Gypsum, Kaolin, and Marble.
These resources play a crucial role in the production of various goods and services, positioning Nigeria as a potential major supplier. The global demand for Nigeria’s mineral resources is substantial, with applications in diverse industries.
One of Nigeria’s key mineral resources is natural gas, extensively used in electricity generation, heating, cooking, and the production of fertilizers, plastics, and chemicals.
Iron ore, another critical resource, is essential for steel production, while lead and zinc find applications in batteries, alloys, and various industrial products.
Tin, a vital resource, is utilized in the production of tinplate, commonly used in packaging food and beverages. Nigeria boasts significant reserves of coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, tin, and other minerals, primarily located in different states across the country.
What Is Mineral Resources?
Mineral resources refer to natural minerals concentrated in the Earth’s crust that hold economic value and can be extracted. They fall into two main categories: metallic, like gold, silver, iron, and copper, and non-metallic, including substances such as sand, gravel, gypsum, and halite.
These resources play a vital role in human activities like construction, energy production, and manufacturing. They shape the long-term plans of mining companies and are essential for the sustainability of their operations in the future.
How Mineral Resources Are Found
Nigeria is rich in diverse mineral resources, falling into categories like fossil fuels, metallic, non-metallic, and radioactive minerals. Some key minerals in Nigeria are gold, granite, gypsum, kaolin, laterite, limestone, phosphate, potash, silica sand, and salt.
These valuable resources, concentrated in the southeast, could significantly contribute to the nation’s economic growth. In terms of fossil fuels, Nigeria boasts substantial reserves, including 23 billion barrels of proven oil and 160 trillion cubic meters of gas.
The country’s metallic minerals encompass iron ore, lead, zinc, and tin, crucial for industrial applications like steel production and the manufacturing of batteries and alloys.
Non-metallic minerals like barites, gypsum, kaolin, and marble serve various industries such as construction, glassmaking, and ceramics.
Additionally, Nigeria holds radioactive minerals like uranium, thorite, and zircon, essential for nuclear energy production and other applications. Exploiting these resources could enhance Nigeria’s economy, generate employment, and cater to global market demands.
To facilitate their orderly exploitation, the Nigerian government has granted prospecting licenses to both local and foreign investors, allowing them to participate in exploring and exploiting the country’s vast mineral wealth.
List of Mineral Resources Found in The 36 States of Nigeria, Including Abuja
| States | Mineral Resources |
|---|---|
| ABUJA | Marble Clay Tantalite Cassiterite Gold (this is partially investigated) Lead /Zinc (Found in traces) Dolomite |
| Abia State | Gold Salt Limestone Lead Zinc Crude Oil |
| Adamawa State | Kaolin Bentonite Gypsum Magnesite |
| Akwa Ibom State | Lead Zinc Clay Limestone Uranium (Found in traces) Salt Lignite (Found in traces) Crude oil |
| Anambra State | Lead Zinc Clay Limestone Iron-Ore Lignite (This is partially investigated) Salt Glass-Sand Phosphate Gypsum Crude Oil |
| Bayelsa State | Crude oil Clay Limestone Gypsum (This is partially investigated) Uranium (This is partially investigated) Manganese Lignite Lead (Found in traces) Zinc (Found in traces) |
| Bauchi State | Amethyst (violet) Gypsum Lead (Found in traces) Zinc (Found in traces) Uranium (This is partially investigated) |
| Benue State | Lead Zinc Limestone Iron-Ore Coal Clay Marble Salt Barites (Found in traces) Gemstones Gypsum |
| Borno State | Diatomite Clay Limestone Hydrocarbons (This is partially investigated) Gypsum Kaolin Bentonite |
| Cross River State | Limestone Uranium Manganese Lignite Lead Zinc Salt Crude Oil |
| Delta State | Marble Glass Sand Gypsum Lignite Iron-Ore Kaolin Crude oil |
| Ebonyi State | Lead Gold (partially investigated) Salt |
| Edo State | Marble Lignite Clay Limestone Iron Ore Gypsum Glass Sand Gold Dolomite Phosphate Bitumen Crude Oil |
| Ekiti State | Kaolin Feldspar Titanium Granite Syenite |
| Enugu State | Coal Limestone Lead Zinc |
| Gombe State | Gemstone Gypsum |
| Imo State | Lead Zinc Limestone Lignite Phosphate Marcasite Gypsum Salt Crude Oil |
| Jigawa State | Butytes |
| Kaduna State | Sapphire Kaolin Gold Clay Serpentinite Asbestos Amethyst Kyanite Graphite (This is partially investigated) Selenite Mica (Found in traces) Aquamarine Ruby Rock Crystal Topaz Copper Tourmaline Gemstone Tantalum |
| Kano State | Cassiterite Copper Glass Sand Gemstone Lead Zinc Tantalite |
| Katsina State | Kaolin Marble Salt |
| Kebbi State | Gold |
| Kogi State | Iron-Ore Kaolin Gypsum Feldspar Coal Marble Dolomite Talc Tantalite |
| Kwara State | Gold Marble Iron-Ore Cassiterite Columbite Tantalite Feldspar (found in traces) Mica (Found in traces) |
| Lagos State | Glass Sand Clay Bitumen Crude Oil |
| Nasarawa State | Beryl Aquamarine Heliodor Dolomite Marble Sapphire Tourmaline Quartz Amethyst Zircon Tantalite Cassiterite Columbite Lamanite Galena Iron-Ore Barites Feldspar Limestone Mica Cooking Coal Talc Clay Salt Chalcopyrite |
| Niger State | Gold Talc Lead Zinc |
| Ogun State | Phosphate Clay Feldspar (Found in traces) Kaolin Limestone Gemstone Bitumen |
| Ondo State | Bitumen Kaolin Gemstone Gypsum Feldspar Granite Clay Glass Sand Dimension Stones Limestone Coal Crude Oil |
| Osun State | Gold Talc Tourmaline Columbite Granite |
| Oya State | Kaolin Marble Clay Sillimanite Talc Gold Cassiterite Aquamarine Dolomite Gemstone Tantalite |
| Plateau State | Emerald Tin Marble Granite Tantalite Lead Zinc Barites Iron-Ore Kaolin Belonite Cassiterite Pyrochlore Clay Coal Wolfram Salt Bismuth Fluoride Molybdenum Gemstone Bauxite |
| Rivers State | Glass Sand Clay Marble Lignite (Found in traces) Crude Oil |
| Sokoto State | Kaolin Gold Limestone Phosphate Gypsum Silica Sand Clay Laterite Potash Granite Gold Salt |
| Taraba State | Kaolin Lead Zinc |
| Yobe State | Tintomite Soda Ash (This is partially Investigated) |
| Zamfara | Coal Gold |
List Of Mineral Resources Found In Nigeria
Nigeria stands as a prosperous hub of various mineral resources, each playing a vital role in the creation of a diverse array of goods and services.
Let’s delve into some of the major mineral resources that define Nigeria’s rich geological landscape.
1. Petroleum/Natural Gas
Nigeria proudly holds the title of Africa’s largest producer of crude oil, securing the 13th spot globally. The country boasts an impressive 23 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and a substantial 160 trillion cubic meters of gas reserves.
2. Coal
Across several states, Nigeria possesses significant deposits of coal, further adding to the nation’s diverse mineral wealth.
3. Bitumen
In the construction industry, Nigeria’s substantial bitumen deposits find valuable utility, contributing to the development of vital infrastructure.
4. Iron Ore
Mined in Kogi State at Itakpe, iron ore serves as a crucial resource already undergoing beneficiation processes.
5. Gypsum
Found in various states, gypsum stands as an indispensable input for cement production, playing a key role in the construction sector.
6. Gold
Nigeria’s schist belt harbors proven reserves of both alluvial and primary gold, distributed across several states.
7. Talc
Abundant talc deposits, exceeding 40 million tonnes, are identified in states like Niger, Osun, Kogi, Ogun, and Kaduna.
8. Baryte
Taraba and Bauchi States hold substantial reserves of baryte, with over 7.5 million tonnes identified.
9. Lead/Zinc
Eight states in Nigeria host an estimated 10 million tonnes of lead/zinc veins, with proven reserves concentrated in the east-central area.
10. Gemstones
In Plateau, Kaduna, and Bauchi states, Nigeria treasures significant deposits of gemstones, including sapphire, ruby, aquamarine, and emerald.
How Mineral Resources Generate More Income To The Country
Nigeria’s income receives a significant boost through its abundant mineral resources, contributing to the GDP, export earnings, and overall revenue potential.
Data from TheGlobalEconomy.com reveals that, on average, natural resources make up 14.77 percent of Nigeria’s GDP, peaking at 43.15 percent in 1979 and standing at 8.55 percent in 2021.
The country possesses sought-after minerals like oil, natural gas, coal, tin, iron ore, limestone, niobium, lead, and zinc, positioning it as a key global supplier and fostering economic growth and job creation.
Despite this, Nigeria reportedly taps into only 40 percent of the revenue it could generate from these resources, as indicated by the World Bank. In 2021, the solid minerals sector contributed 193.59 billion Naira to Nigeria’s earnings, with China being a primary destination for mineral exports.
With over forty types of minerals, including marble, coal, iron ore, gold, silica, lead, zinc, and tin ore, Nigeria holds immense potential for income and economic development through effective harnessing and management of its mineral resources.
Economic Significance
These diverse mineral resources significantly contribute to Nigeria’s economy, offering employment opportunities and serving as key contributors to the country’s revenue.
Source: whoiswriter.com
