Nigeria’s solid minerals sector recorded over $800 million in investments in 2025, Minister Dele Alake said, citing reforms focused on local processing and stricter licensing.
Nigeria’s solid minerals sector attracted over $800 million in investments in 2025, according to Solid Minerals Development Minister, Dr Dele Alake. Speaking in a documentary marking President Bola Tinubu’s second anniversary, Alake credited the gains to new policies requiring local value addition and a stricter licensing process.
“The days of exporting raw minerals from pit to port are over,” he said.
Alake listed ongoing projects including a $600 million lithium plant near Kaduna, a $200 million refinery near Abuja, and two more in Nasarawa.
Despite receiving only 18% of its ₦29 billion budget in 2024, the sector grew revenue from ₦6 billion to ₦38 billion. In Q1 2025 alone, two agencies generated over ₦13 billion.
He added that ₦1 trillion has been allocated for mineral exploration to build globally certified data.
Nigeria also now leads the African Mineral Strategy Group, advocating local beneficiation. “Nigeria has not had it this good,” Alake said.
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