Kaduna Sits On World-Class Platinum, Lithium Province, Says FG
The Federal Government has announced the discovery of a world-class polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State, containing platinum group metals, gold, nickel, copper, lithium, and rare earth elements, in a development positioned to deepen Nigeria’s drive to diversify its economy away from crude oil.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, disclosed the breakthrough on Wednesday at the opening of the 5th African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit, AFNIS 2026, held in Abuja under the theme “One Africa, One Resource Vision.” He said recent exploration breakthroughs verified by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency had unveiled the province, notable for deposits of exceptionally high grades.
According to the minister, the find was made by a private company assisted by the survey agency, and it positions Nigeria among emerging destinations for strategic mineral resources and sustainable mining investment. The disclosure coincided with the unveiling of an estimated 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves at a separate mining site near Abuja during a facility tour for summit delegates.
Platinum, with atomic number 78, is among the rarest metals on earth, prized for its resistance to corrosion and its use in catalytic converters, jewellery, and laboratory equipment. Lithium, the lightest of all metals, has become indispensable in rechargeable batteries for phones, laptops, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems.
Kaduna’s emergence as a mineral hub is not without precedent. In 2024, Governor Uba Sani unveiled a 20 million dollar lithium processing plant in the state with a production capacity of 1,500 tonnes per day. Geological literature has long identified southern Kaduna as part of a broader pegmatite belt running through the country’s basement complex, with lithium occurrences confirmed across Oyo, Kwara, Ekiti, Kogi, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory.
The announcement lands amid surging global appetite for critical minerals. The World Bank has projected that the energy transition could raise demand for minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements by as much as 500 per cent by 2050. Nigeria has moved to capture that value at home. After rejecting bids to export raw lithium ore, the government made local processing a condition for mining, a stance that has drawn major investment, including an 800 million dollar lithium processing project and a 600 million dollar facility near the Kaduna-Niger border.
The reforms have begun to register in national accounts. Dr. Alake has said the mining sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product grew from less than 0.5 per cent a decade ago to about 4.6 per cent in the second quarter of 2025. Nigeria also attracted over 2.6 billion dollars in foreign direct investment into the sector across roughly two and a half years of reforms.
Stakeholders have welcomed the discovery while urging caution. The Nigeria Mining and Geosciences Society has called for equitable benefit-sharing and the involvement of host communities. Persistent concern remains over insecurity in mineral-rich states such as Kaduna, Zamfara, and Niger, where banditry and illegal mining have historically deterred investors. The Ministry has pledged further exploration and feasibility studies to establish the full extent of the deposits.