The Kaduna State Government has urged solid mineral mining experts and Nigerian Exports Promotion Council (NEPC) officials to assist in the exploration of the abundant natural resources in the state for foreign exchange earnings.
The call was made by the Governor Uba Sani at the opening of a meeting on the establishment of strategic engagement of solid minerals clusters for export competitiveness, in Kaduna on Tuesday.
Sani, who was represented by the Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Patience Fakai, expressed the “unwavering commitment of the Kaduna State Government to the development of our solid minerals sector and the broader vision of economic diversification for the country’s development.’
He commended Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Kaduna Mining Development Company for organising the timely and critical engagement, saying that “your efforts to bring together miners, processors, exporters, investors, and regulatory bodies underscore the collaborative spirit needed to unlock the vast potential of our solid minerals sector.”
He further stated, “Kaduna State is richly endowed with solid minerals such as gold, tin, lithium, and gemstones. These resources, if harnessed strategically, can serve as a cornerstone for sustainable development, job creation, and export competitiveness. Today’s event, with its focus on aggregation centers and hubs, aligns perfectly with our administration’s agenda to transform Kaduna into a leading player in the solid minerals value chain.”
Sani remarked, “Aggregation and clustering are not just buzzwords; they are proven strategies to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve market access. By establishing these centers, we can address fragmentation in the sector, ensure value addition, and position Kaduna as a reliable supplier of high-quality mineral products to global markets.”
He further stressed, “Kaduna State Government is fully committed to creating an enabling environment for this sector to thrive”, adding that “we have implemented policies to streamline licensing, improve infrastructure, and foster public-private partnerships.”
However, he noted: “Government alone cannot achieve these goals. We need the active participation of all stakeholders—miners, investors, processors, and regulators—to turn our mineral wealth into shared prosperity.”
He added: “To our investors, both local and international: Kaduna State is open for business. We offer not only rich mineral deposits but also a stable, investor-friendly climate. To our miners and processors: we urge you to adopt modern techniques and sustainable practices that meet global standards. And to our regulatory bodies: we count on your support to ensure compliance and fairness in the sector.”
Meanwhile, in her address, the Executive Director of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs. Nonye Ayeni said that though Kaduna State, and the nation is blessed with immense potentials of solid minerals, “however, despite the potentials, the sector is faced with numerous challenges, including informal activities, lack of funding, inadequate mining technology, lack of quality and standards, insufficient geological data, capacity building, to mention a few.”
She said, “It is worth mentioning that the mandate of Nigerian Export Promotion Council is to promote the development and diversification of Nigeria’s export trade”, pointing out, that “today’s engagement is a critical step in the process as it provides a platform for us to come together, share ideas and encourage processors on the need for value addition along the value chain through cluster mechanism.”
She said, “The Council recognises the contributions of the solid minerals sector to non-oil exports portfolio and the tremendous opportunities in achieving greater economic potentials through this intervention. I urge you all to take advantage of this event to tap, gain insights and equip yourselves with the understanding of cluster processes to accelerate the growth of your businesses, which will translate to growth of the sector.”
“It is worth mentioning that at 16th National Council on Commerce, Trade and Investment held in Lagos on 19th-22nd May, 2025, the Council approved the inclusion of solid minerals as the One State-One-products of the states as well as approved the participation of operators/MDAs/Agencies of Solid Minerals value chain in the State Committee on export promotion nationwide.”
Consequently, she added, “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.”
Besides, the Kaduna State Coordinator of NEPC, Mallam Kabir Yusuf explained that Kaduna state is rich in solid mineral resource, with significant deposits found across its 23 local government areas”, saying, “this event brings together stakeholder from government, industries, and Academia to discuss the potential of solid minerals in driving economic growth and development in our dear state and Nigerian in general.”
Yusuf further stressed that “the establishment of solid mineral cluster and aggregation centers is a strategic initiative that can unlock the full potential of our mineral resource, create jobs, and increase Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for our state.”
