Exploration geophysicists expressed concerns on Monday that Nigeria may eventually have to import the minerals it is currently extracting and exporting if strategic deposits are not purposefully conserved, as the Federal Government steps up efforts to draw investment into the country’s abundant mineral resources and stop the export of raw ores.
In order to turn the mining industry into a significant pillar of Nigeria’s economic diversification, the Federal Government is bolstering geoscientific data, mineral exploration, and professional competence, according to Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake, who issued the warning.
However, the Nigerian Association of Exploration Geophysicists contended that in order to safeguard specific high-grade and strategic mineral deposits for future generations and Nigeria’s long-term industrial development, a national conservation policy must be implemented in tandem with the drive for value addition and increased mining.
At the association’s 4th Annual International Conference and Training Workshop in Abuja, where experts discussed the importance of geophysics in resource exploitation, environmental management, and infrastructure development, the opposing but complimentary messages became apparent.
Discussions on artificial intelligence, machine learning, groundwater assessment, geotechnical engineering, policy, investment, and capacity building were also included in the conference under the theme “Geophysics: A Critical Driver in Resource Exploration, Environmental Management, and Infrastructural Development.”
Geophysics is more than just an academic field, according to Alake, who was represented by Hadiza Godi, a director at the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency. She described geophysics as a vital tool for uncovering Nigeria’s hidden treasure and promoting sustainable national development.
“Geophysics is not just an academic pursuit; it is the master key that unlocks our underground wealth, protects our ecosystem, and secures the foundation of our national infrastructure,” the minister declared.
He claimed that because trustworthy data was still essential for lowering uncertainty and drawing in investment, the Federal Government had made the creation of trustworthy geological and geophysical data a key component of its mining reform agenda.
He asserts that “the ultimate bedrock of mining investment is accurate and reliable geoscientific data.”
Alake stated that in an effort to increase understanding of Nigeria’s mineral endowment, the ministry had extended geological mapping and conducted focused, high-resolution aerial geophysical surveys through the NGSA.
Along with iron, lead, zinc, and aluminum, he claimed that the exercise had resulted in the discovery of deposits of minerals deemed essential to the global energy transition, such as lithium, graphite, copper, manganese, and rare earth elements.
“We have carried out targeted high-resolution airborne geophysical surveys and extensive field mapping through the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency,” the minister stated. In addition to the traditional to transitional bridge minerals like iron, lead, zinc, and aluminum, we have successfully located significant quantities of essential transition minerals and supporting minerals including lithium, graphite, copper, manganese, and REEs.
However, Nigeria must avoid a situation where the rush to mine and process minerals leaves future generations without access to strategically significant deposits, according to Akin George, President of NAEG, as the government works to unleash these resources.
George noted that the federal government’s stance on local value addition marked a change from the long-standing practice of exporting raw minerals.
“The Ministry of Solid Mineral Development has mandated that any investor who wishes to mine minerals in Nigeria subject such minerals to value addition,” he stated. Put otherwise, no mineral leaves this nation’s shores without adding value.
Strict adherence to this value adding principle will produce favorable outcomes. We are aware that investors have begun building mineral processing facilities in nearly every one of the federation’s six geopolitical zones, which will undoubtedly increase employment opportunities for our burgeoning young in the future.
The head of NAEG, however, stated that Nigeria’s mining strategy should not be evaluated solely on local processing.
He cautioned that the nation must decide which deposits should be mined right away, which should be developed for domestic industrial use, and which should be kept as strategic reserves because minerals are limited resources.
“It is well known that Nigeria is endowed with over 34 vast, varied solid mineral resources, spread in about 450 different locations across the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT,” he stated. The fact that mineral resources are not replenishable commodities may surprise you. They are not replenished after they are extracted or mined.
Thus, in light of Nigeria’s increased efforts to draw in both domestic and foreign investment for the mining industry, the NAEG president urged for a national conservation policy for strategic minerals.
In addition to other important minerals like uranium, platinum, and bauxite that are found in commercially feasible amounts, he specifically advocated for the preservation of certain high-grade reserves of lithium and chromite.
Prof. Shehu Ahmed, the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, stated that the PTDF would continue to support the growth of indigenous capacity through training, research, knowledge transfer, and mentorship. He was accompanied by Wasiru Ahmed, a fund manager.
Speaking as well, Prof. Musa Sada, a former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, praised the association for maintaining professional cooperation and emphasized the value of ongoing education in a sector that is becoming more and more influenced by technological advancements.
The Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society, the Miners Association of Nigeria, and the NGSA were among the other speakers who urged enhanced archiving of exploration data, samples, drill logs, and technical reports as well as greater cooperation across professional organizations.
Prof. Deborah Ajakaiye, the Chairman of the NAEG Board of Trustees, was also honored at the conference for her groundbreaking contributions to geophysics and her role in educating future generations of Nigerian geoscientists.
