Nigeria is among countries in Africa with a wide variety of different natural resources. The country is richly endowed with natural resources ranging from industrial metals to various precious stones such as Barites, Gypsum, Kaolin and Marble. Most of these minerals are yet to be exploited. Statistically, the level of exploitation of these minerals is very low in relation to the extent of deposit found in the country. One of the objectives of the new National Policy on solid minerals is to ensure the orderly development of the mineral resources of the country.
- Nigerian States and their Natural Resources
- PROFILE OF SOLID MINERAL DEPOSITS IN NIGERIA
| S/N | STATES | NATURAL RESOURCES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abia | Gold, Lead/Zinc, Limestone, Oil/Gas & Salt |
| 2 | Abuja | Cassiterite, Clay, Dolomite, Gold, Lead/Zinc, Marble & Tantalite |
| 3 | Adamawa | Bentonite, Gypsium, Kaolin & Magnesite |
| 4 | Akwa Ibom | Clay, Lead/Zinc, Lignite, Limestone, Oil/Gas, Salt & Uranium |
| 5 | Anambra | Clay, Glass-Sand, Gypsium, Iron-ore, Lead/Zinc, Lignite, Limestone, Phosphate & Salt |
| 6 | Bauchi | Gold, Cassiterite (tine ore), Columbite, Gypsium, Wolfram, Coal, Limestone, Lignite, Iron-ore & Clay |
| 7 | Bayelsa | Glay, Gypsium, Lead/Zinc, Lignite, Limestone, Maganese, Oil/Gas & Uranium |
| 8 | Benue | Barite, Clay, Coal, Gemstone, Gypsium, Iron-Ore, Lead/Zinc, Limestone, Marble & Salt |
| 9 | Borno | Bentonite, Clay, Diatomite, Gypsium, Hydro-carbon, Kaolin & Limestone |
| 10 | Delta | Clay, Glass-sand, Gypsium, Iron-ore, Kaolin, Lignite, Marble & Oil/Gas |
| 11 | Ebonyi | Gold, Lead/Zinc & Salt |
| 12 | Edo | Bitumen, Clay Dolomite, Phosphate, Glass-sand, Gold, Gypsium,Iron-ore, Lignite, Limestone, Marble & Oil/Gas |
| 13 | Ekiti | Feldspar, Granite, Kaolin, Syenite & Tatium |
| 14 | Enugu | Coal, Lead/Zinc & Limestone |
| 15 | Gombe | Gemstone & Gypsium |
| 16 | Imo | Gypsium, Lead/Zinc, Lignite, Limestone, Marcasite, Oil/Gas, Phosphate & Salt |
| 17 | Cross River | Barite, Lead/Zinc, Lignite, Limestone, Manganese, Oil/Gas, Salt & Uranium |
| 18 | Jigawa | Butyles |
| 19 | Kaduna | Amethyst, Aqua Marine, Asbestos, Clay, Flosper, Gemstone, Gold, Graphite, Kaolin, Hyanite, Mica, Rock Crystal, Ruby, Sapphire, Sihnite, Superntinite, Tentalime, Topaz & Tourmaline |
| 20 | Kano | Gassiterite, Copper, Gemstone, Glass-sand, Lead/Zinc, Pyrochinre & Tantalite |
| 21 | Kastina | Kaolin, Marble & Salt |
| 22 | Kebbi | Gold |
| 23 | Kogi | Cole, Dolomite, Feldspar, Gypsium, Iron-ore, Kaolin, Marble, Talc & Tantalite |
| 24 | Kwara | Cassiterite, Columbite, Feldspar, Gold, Iron-ore, Marble, Mica & Tantalite |
| 25 | Lagos | Bitumen, Clay & Glass-sand |
| 26 | Nasarawa | Amethyst (Topaz Garnet), Barytex, Barite, Cassirite, Chalcopyrite, Clay, Columbite, Coking Coal, Dolomite/Marble, Feldspar, Galena, Iron-ore, Limstone, Mica, Salt, Sapphire, Talc, Tantalite, Tourmaline Quartz& Zireon |
| 27 | Niger | Gold, Lead/Zinc & Talc |
| 28 | Ogun | Bitumen, Clay, Feldspar, Gemstone, Kaolin, Limestone & Phosphate |
| 29 | Ondo | Bitumen, Clay, Coal, Dimension Stones, Feldspar, Gemstone, Glass-Sand, Granite, Gypsium, Kaolin, Limestone & Oil/Gas |
| 30 | Osun | Columbite, Gold, Granite, Talc, Tantalite & Tourmaline |
| 31 | Oyo | Aqua Marine, Cassiterite, Clay, Dolomite, Gemstone, Gold, Kaolin, Marble, Silimonite, Talc & Tantalite |
| 32 | Pleteau | Barite, Bauxite, Betonite, Bismuth, Cassiterite, Clay, Coal, Emeral, Fluoride, Gemstone, Granite, Iron-ore, Kaolin, Lead/Zinc, Marble, Molybdenite, Phrochlore, Salt, Tantalite/Columbite, Tin & Wolfram |
| 33 | Rivers | Clay, Glass-Sand, Lignite, Marble & Oil/Gas |
| 34 | Sokoto | Clay, Flakes, Gold, Granite, Gypsium, Kaolin, Laterite, Limestone, Phosphate, Potash, Silica Sand & Salt |
| 35 | Taraba | Lead/Zinc |
| 36 | Yobe | Soda Ash & Tintomite |
| 37 | Zamfara | Coal, Cotton & Gold |
There are tremendous opportunities for investments in the solid mineral sector of the Nigerian economy. Prospecting licenses are granted by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to investors (local and foreign), to enable them participate in the exploitation of the vast mineral resources in Nigeria.
