Kaduna Takes Steps To Be On Global Map Of Solid Minerals – Govt.
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the development and diversification of Nigeria’s export trade
The Executive Director and Chief Executive officer of the Council, Mrs Nonye Ayeni stated this on Tuesday at the Strategic Engagement on Establishment of Solid Minerals Clusters For Export Competitiveness in Kaduna.
She told a convergence of stakeholders including miners, processors,exporters, investors and regulatory bodies that the nation is blessed with immense potentials of the solid but with numerous challenges.
These include informal activities, lack of funding, inadequate mining technology, lack of quality and standards, insufficient geological data, capacity building.
A cross section of the participants
The Council, Mrs Ayeni said, recognizes the contributions of the solid minerals sector to non-oil exports portfolio and the tremendous opportunities in achieving greater economic potentials through this intervention and therefore urged the stakeholders to take advantage of the engagement and equip themselves with the understanding of cluster processes to accelerate the growth of their businesses.
“It is worth mentioning that at 16th National Council on Commerce, Trade and Investment held in Lagos on 19th-22nd May, 2025, the Council has approved the inclusion of solid minerals as the One State-One-products of the states as well as approved the participation of operators/MDAs/Aagencies of Solid Minerals value chain in the State Committee on export promotion nationwide.
“Consequently, the Kaduna State Committee on Export Promotion is implored to implement the resolution for effective participation of the Ministries of Solid Minerals/Agencies and so on”, the NEPC Executive Director advised .
Also, the Kaduna State Government reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the development of solid minerals sector and broader vision of economics diversification.
One of the mining sites in Kaduna
The State Commissioner for Business Innovation and Technology, Mrs Patience Fakai who represented the State Governor, Sen. Uba Sani, informed the participants that the State is richly endowed with solid Minerals such as gold, tin lithium and gemstones adding that if harnessed strategically, they could serve as a cornerstone for sustainable development, job creation and export Competitiveness.
While noting that the government alone cannot achieve these goals, the Commissioner stressed the need for the active participation of all stakeholders—miners, investors, processors, and regulators—to turn the mineral wealth into shared prosperity.
Mrs Fakai reassured that the Kaduna State Government is fully committed to creating an enabling environment for this sector to thrive.
“We have implemented policies to streamline licensing, improve infrastructure, and foster public-private partnerships, ” she emphasized.
The Commissioner who thanked the NEPC and all partners for the laudable initiative stressed the need for them to work together to build a sector that benefits the people, strengthens the economy, and place Kaduna State on the global map of solid minerals
Earlier in his address of welcome, the State Coordinator, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Kabiru Yusuf noted with delight that Kaduna State is endowed with vast solid mineral resources, with significant deposits spread across its 23 local government areas.
This engagement, he explained, brings together stakeholders from government, industry, and academia to explore the immense potential of the solid minerals sector in driving economic growth and development in state, and Nigeria at large.
In his closing remarks, the Director Operations, Kaduna Mining Development, Usman Ibrahim Tabari said the commitment shown by the National Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and all stakeholders present at the event was a testament to their shared vision for a thriving mining industry that not only contributes to the economy but also uplifts the communities involved.
He reiterated the importance of the formalization of artisanal miners, a cause that they at Kaduna Mining Development Company, KMDC were passionately advocating for.
“By organizing these miners into clusters, we can enhance their productivity, ensure better resource management, and provide them with the market access they need to succeed. This initiative is not just about improving individual livelihoods; it is about building a sustainable future for the entire mining sector in Nigeria”, Tabari emphasized
