Nigeria's Resource Opportunities
How citizens, businesses, and government can benefit from Nigeria's natural wealth
Why This Matters
Nigeria has vast natural resources, but too often the benefits flow out of the country. This page shows you who needs Nigerian resources, how you can participate, and what policies could unlock more value for Nigerians.
42
Resources Tracked
7
With Global Demand Data
38
Global Buyers Identified
16
Investment Opportunities
Crude Oil
$3.82T
Nigeria's potential value
📰 Dangote Refinery at full capacity could make Nigeria fuel exporter.
💡 Nigeria loses more to oil theft annually than most African countries' entire GDP.
🌍 Who Needs Nigerian Crude Oil?
China
country
United States
country
India
country
European Union
country
Refineries globally
industry
Demand Drivers:
- → Transportation (still dominant)
- → Petrochemicals
- → Emerging market growth
- → Aviation fuel
✓ Nigeria's Strengths
- • 37 billion barrels reserves (13th globally)
- • Light sweet crude (premium quality)
- • Established export infrastructure
- • OPEC membership
⚠ Challenges to Address
- • Oil theft costs $8B+ annually
- • Aging infrastructure
- • Below OPEC quota production
- • Energy transition risks
- • Refinery capacity issues (Dangote changing this)
💰 Investment Opportunities for Nigerians
Oil Services Companies
Provide drilling, maintenance, logistics, or technical services to oil majors.
Petroleum Products Trading
Trade refined petroleum products in the domestic market.
🤝 How You Can Participate
Understand Oil Revenue
Learn how oil money flows through the economy. Demand transparency in NNPC accounts.
Impact: Better governance of $20B+ annual revenue
Support Dangote Refinery
The 650,000 bpd refinery could end fuel imports. Support local refining.
Impact: Save $20B+ annually on fuel imports
🏛️ Policy Recommendations
Stop Oil Theft
Deploy technology and community engagement to eliminate oil theft. Current losses are catastrophic.
Responsible: NNPC / Security Agencies
Post-Oil Diversification Fund
Save portion of oil revenue for economic diversification as global demand declines.
Responsible: Ministry of Finance
Natural Gas
$73.69B
Nigeria's potential value
📰 Europe desperate for non-Russian gas. Nigeria LNG exports up 15%.
💡 Nigeria flares enough gas daily to power all of West Africa. That's money literally going up in smoke.
🌍 Who Needs Nigerian Natural Gas?
European Union
country
Seeking alternatives to Russian gas
China
country
Japan
country
Largest LNG importer
South Korea
country
Shell
UK/Netherlands
NLNG partner
TotalEnergies
France
Demand Drivers:
- → EU energy security post-Russia sanctions
- → Coal-to-gas switching in Asia
- → Lower carbon than coal/oil
- → Industrial feedstock (fertilizers, chemicals)
✓ Nigeria's Strengths
- • Africa's largest gas reserves (210+ TCF)
- • Established LNG export infrastructure (NLNG)
- • Strategic location for European market
- • Gas flaring reduction creates supply
⚠ Challenges to Address
- • Still flares $2B+ worth annually
- • Domestic gas pricing disputes
- • Pipeline vandalism and theft
- • NLNG Train 7 delays
- • Competition from Qatar, USA, Australia
💰 Investment Opportunities for Nigerians
Gas Flare Capture
Partner with oil companies to capture flared gas. Federal government offers incentives.
CNG/LPG Distribution
Build CNG stations or LPG distribution network for domestic market.
Domestic Gas Aggregation
Aggregate gas from small producers for industrial customers.
🤝 How You Can Participate
Switch to CNG Vehicles
Convert your vehicle to CNG - cheaper than petrol and supports domestic gas industry.
Impact: Save money while reducing oil dependence
Gas Flare Tracking
Use satellite data to monitor gas flaring. Hold companies accountable.
Impact: Reduce environmental damage, increase revenue
🏛️ Policy Recommendations
Decade of Gas Acceleration
Fast-track "Decade of Gas" initiatives. Prioritize domestic gas-to-power and industrialization.
Responsible: Ministry of Petroleum Resources
Zero Flaring Enforcement
Strictly enforce 2030 zero-flaring deadline with real penalties.
Responsible: NUPRC
Iron Ore
$16.36B
Nigeria's potential value
💡 Ajaokuta Steel Complex cost $8 billion but has never produced a single steel roll. It could transform Nigeria if completed.
🌍 Who Needs Nigerian Iron Ore?
China
country
70% of global imports
ArcelorMittal
Luxembourg
Nippon Steel
Japan
POSCO
South Korea
Demand Drivers:
- → Steel production for construction
- → Infrastructure development
- → Automotive manufacturing
- → African infrastructure boom
✓ Nigeria's Strengths
- • Significant deposits (3 billion+ tonnes)
- • Itakpe mine operational
- • Ajaokuta Steel Complex (if completed)
- • Growing domestic steel demand
⚠ Challenges to Address
- • Ajaokuta Steel never completed ($8B wasted)
- • Itakpe underutilized
- • Imports dominate steel market
- • Power supply issues for processing
💰 Investment Opportunities for Nigerians
Steel Manufacturing
Partner with Ajaokuta revival or build mini steel mills using Nigerian iron ore.
🤝 How You Can Participate
Demand Ajaokuta Completion
Advocate for completing Ajaokuta Steel - one of the biggest industrial failures in African history.
Impact: Transform Nigerian industry if completed
🏛️ Policy Recommendations
Ajaokuta Resolution
Finally resolve Ajaokuta ownership disputes and either complete or repurpose the complex.
Responsible: Ministry of Mines and Steel Development
Gold
$6.32B
Nigeria's potential value
💡 CBN started buying Nigerian gold in 2022 to build reserves. Every gram keeps wealth in Nigeria.
🌍 Who Needs Nigerian Gold?
Central Banks
industry
Reserve asset
Jewelry Industry
industry
50% of demand
Electronics Industry
industry
Connectors, circuits
India
country
Largest jewelry consumer
China
country
Demand Drivers:
- → Central bank reserves (de-dollarization)
- → Jewelry demand (India, China)
- → Safe haven investment
- → Electronics and technology
✓ Nigeria's Strengths
- • Deposits in Osun, Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger states
- • Artisanal mining provides employment
- • Presidential gold buying program launched
⚠ Challenges to Address
- • Mostly artisanal - low productivity
- • Security issues in NW mining areas
- • Limited formal mining operations
- • Gold smuggling is rampant
💰 Investment Opportunities for Nigerians
Gold Mining License
Acquire exploration or mining license in gold-bearing regions.
Licensed Gold Buying Center
Establish CBN-licensed gold buying center to aggregate artisanal production.
🤝 How You Can Participate
Buy Nigerian Gold Jewelry
Support local gold industry by buying Nigerian-mined gold jewelry from certified sources.
Impact: Keep wealth in Nigeria
🏛️ Policy Recommendations
Gold Reserve Building
Accelerate CBN gold buying program to build national reserves.
Responsible: Central Bank of Nigeria
Tin (Cassiterite)
$5.46B
Nigeria's potential value
📰 Global tin shortage looms as Indonesia restricts exports. Nigeria could fill the gap.
💡 Nigeria was the world's 6th largest tin producer in the 1960s. The Jos Plateau was called "Tin City."
🌍 Who Needs Nigerian Tin (Cassiterite)?
Electronics Industry
industry
Solder for circuit boards
Packaging Industry
industry
Tin cans, tinplate
Intel
USA
Samsung Electronics
South Korea
TSMC
Taiwan
Demand Drivers:
- → Electronics manufacturing (solder)
- → Lead-free solder regulations increasing tin demand
- → Packaging industry
- → Chemical industry (tin compounds)
✓ Nigeria's Strengths
- • Historic producer - was world #6 in 1960s (Jos Plateau)
- • Known deposits in Plateau, Nasarawa, Kano states
- • Existing mining communities with expertise
- • Infrastructure from colonial-era mining
⚠ Challenges to Address
- • Industry collapsed after 1985 tin crash
- • Artisanal mining dominates - needs modernization
- • Environmental remediation needed in Jos Plateau
- • Security concerns in some mining areas
💰 Investment Opportunities for Nigerians
Revive Jos Plateau Tin Mining
Acquire licenses in historic tin mining areas. Modern technology can extract tin from tailings and new deposits.
Tin Smelter
Build tin smelter to process concentrate domestically instead of exporting raw ore.
Solder Manufacturing
Manufacture solder products for electronics industry using Nigerian tin.
🤝 How You Can Participate
Jos Plateau Mining Heritage
Document and preserve Nigeria's tin mining history. Create mining tourism and education programs.
Impact: Cultural preservation and tourism revenue
Formalize Artisanal Miners
Help artisanal miners form cooperatives, access finance, and sell at fair prices.
Impact: Improve livelihoods of 100,000+ artisanal miners
🏛️ Policy Recommendations
Tin Industry Revival Plan
Comprehensive plan to restore Nigeria as major tin producer. Include environmental remediation, infrastructure, and investment incentives.
Responsible: Ministry of Solid Minerals Development
Lithium
$0.00
Nigeria's potential value
📰 Tesla signed $5B deal with Chilean lithium producer. Nigeria could be next.
💡 A single Tesla Model Y contains about 8kg of lithium - enough to power 1,000 smartphones.
🌍 Who Needs Nigerian Lithium?
Tesla
USA
Gigafactories in US, Germany, China
BYD
China
World's largest EV maker
CATL
China
World's largest battery maker
LG Energy Solution
South Korea
Panasonic
Japan
Samsung SDI
South Korea
Apple
USA
Consumer electronics batteries
Volkswagen Group
Germany
PowerCo battery unit
Demand Drivers:
- → Electric vehicle adoption accelerating globally (30M EVs expected by 2030)
- → Grid-scale energy storage for renewable energy
- → Consumer electronics (phones, laptops, tablets)
- → US Inflation Reduction Act requiring domestic/allied sourcing
✓ Nigeria's Strengths
- • Significant pegmatite deposits in Nasarawa, Kwara, Ekiti states
- • Lower labor costs than Australia/Chile
- • Growing mining sector with improving regulations
- • Strategic location for European and American markets
⚠ Challenges to Address
- • Limited exploration data - deposits not fully mapped
- • Processing infrastructure lacking (no lithium refineries)
- • Artisanal mining dominates - needs formalization
- • Power supply challenges for processing
- • Competition from established producers (Australia, Chile, China)
💰 Investment Opportunities for Nigerians
Lithium Exploration License
Acquire exploration licenses in Nasarawa, Kwara, or Ekiti states where pegmatite deposits have been identified.
Lithium Concentrate Processing
Build spodumene concentrate facility to process raw lithium ore for export to battery manufacturers.
Mining Services & Equipment
Provide drilling, assaying, logistics, or equipment rental services to lithium exploration companies.
Lithium Ore Trading
Aggregate lithium ore from artisanal miners and export to international buyers.
🤝 How You Can Participate
Invest in Nigerian Lithium Stocks
Several Nigerian companies are exploring lithium. Research and invest in publicly traded mining companies on the NGX.
Impact: Build wealth while funding Nigerian resource development
Geology & Mining Careers
Study geology, mining engineering, or metallurgy. Nigeria will need thousands of skilled professionals as mining expands.
Impact: High-paying careers in growing sector
Advocate for Local Processing
Support policies requiring lithium processing in Nigeria rather than raw ore export. This creates more jobs and value.
Impact: Each processing job creates 3-5 indirect jobs
Mining Community Development
NGOs and social enterprises can help mining communities negotiate fair deals and manage environmental impacts.
Impact: Ensure communities benefit from resources under their land
🏛️ Policy Recommendations
National Lithium Strategy
Develop comprehensive strategy positioning Nigeria as African lithium hub. Include exploration incentives, processing requirements, and export policies.
Responsible: Ministry of Solid Minerals Development
Battery Manufacturing Zone
Create special economic zone for battery cell manufacturing with tax incentives for international battery makers.
Responsible: Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment
Geological Survey Funding
Fund comprehensive geological survey of lithium-bearing pegmatites. Current data is 30+ years old.
Responsible: Nigerian Geological Survey Agency
Cobalt
$0.00
Nigeria's potential value
💡 70% of world cobalt comes from DRC, often with child labor concerns. Nigeria could offer an ethical alternative.
🌍 Who Needs Nigerian Cobalt?
Tesla
USA
Reducing cobalt but still needs it
Apple
USA
Committed to responsible sourcing
CATL
China
Samsung SDI
South Korea
Aerospace Industry
industry
Superalloys for jet engines
Demand Drivers:
- → EV batteries (largest demand driver)
- → Consumer electronics
- → Aerospace superalloys
- → ESG concerns driving demand for non-DRC sources
✓ Nigeria's Strengths
- • Not associated with DRC human rights concerns
- • Can offer "conflict-free" certification
- • Growing mining regulatory framework
⚠ Challenges to Address
- • Limited known deposits compared to DRC
- • Needs comprehensive exploration
- • No existing cobalt supply chain
💰 Investment Opportunities for Nigerians
Cobalt Exploration
Explore for cobalt deposits, particularly in areas with nickel mineralization.
🤝 How You Can Participate
Responsible Mining Advocacy
Nigeria can position itself as ethical alternative to DRC cobalt. Support transparency initiatives.
Impact: Premium pricing for ethically sourced cobalt
🏛️ Policy Recommendations
Ethical Mining Certification
Develop Nigerian certification for conflict-free, child-labor-free minerals to compete with DRC.
Responsible: Ministry of Solid Minerals Development
Other Nigerian Resources (35)
Detailed demand intelligence coming soon for these resources
Kaolin (China Clay)
industrial mineral
$261.60B
Bitumen (Tar Sands)
energy
$220.50B
Coal
energy
$154.73B
Limestone
industrial mineral
$24.21B
Lead-Zinc
metal
$12.50B
Copper
metal
$4.46B
Barite
industrial mineral
$2.51B
Rare Earth Elements
metal
$1.25B
Aluminum (Bauxite)
metal
$437.50M
Columbite-Tantalite (Coltan)
metal
$94.50M
Uranium
energy
$0.00
Sapphire
other
$0.00
Tourmaline
other
$0.00
Topaz
other
$0.00
Aquamarine
other
$0.00
Sand & Gravel
industrial mineral
$0.00
Clay
industrial mineral
$0.00
Silica Sand
industrial mineral
$0.00
Graphite
metal
$0.00
Gypsum
industrial mineral
$0.00
Be Part of Nigeria's Resource Story
Nigeria's natural resources belong to all Nigerians. Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, worker, or concerned citizen - there's a role for you in ensuring these resources benefit the nation.