Natural Resources
Mineral Resources in Nigeria by State
Nigeria has about 44 different solid minerals in more than 500 locations, by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development's official count — and every one of the 36 states and the FCT has recorded deposits. Seven are designated strategic minerals: coal, iron ore, bitumen, gold, limestone, lead-zinc and barite. Tap a state on the map, or use the table, to see the major mineral resources in each state; the 10 crude-oil and gas producing states are marked separately, as oil is governed under its own law.
Verified · NGSA, Ministry of Solid Minerals & NEITI sources · updated August 23, 2026
Solid minerals Also produces crude oil & gas
Tap or hover a state to preview its minerals; tap again (or click) to jump to its row in the table.
Mineral Resources by State
| State | Major Mineral Resources |
|---|---|
| AbiaOil & gas | Limestone, Lead-zinc, Kaolin, Bentonite clay |
| Adamawa | Gypsum, Kaolin, Limestone, Bentonite, Barite, Coal, Gemstones |
| Akwa IbomOil & gas | Rock salt, Clay, Limestone, Glass sand |
| AnambraOil & gas | Lignite, Kaolin, Bentonite clay, Lead-zinc, Limestone, Glass sand |
| Bauchi | Tin (cassiterite), Gold, Columbite, Wolfram, Gypsum, Kaolin, Limestone, Coal & lignite |
| BayelsaOil & gas | Kaolin, Bentonite & ball clay, Salt, Silica sand |
| Benue | Coal, Limestone, Barite, Lead-zinc, Gypsum, Marble, Clay |
| Borno | Limestone, Gypsum, Kaolin, Diatomite, Clay, Trona (soda ash), Uranium, Potash |
| Cross River | Barite, Lead-zinc, Iron ore, Manganese, Marble, Limestone, Gold |
| DeltaOil & gas | Silica sand, Clay, Limestone, Lignite, Tar sand |
| Ebonyi | Lead-zinc, Salt, Limestone, Marble, Granite, Kaolin, Clay |
| EdoOil & gas | Limestone, Bitumen, Marble, Gypsum, Clay & kaolin, Gold |
| Ekiti | Kaolin, Feldspar, Granite & dimension stones, Columbite-tantalite & tin, Gemstones (tourmaline, aquamarine), Mica, Phosphate, Clay |
| Enugu | Coal, Limestone, Iron ore, Gypsum, Glass sand, Clay & kaolin, Bitumen |
| FCT | Marble, Dolomite, Clay, Tin (cassiterite), Lead-zinc, Tantalite, Gold |
| Gombe | Gypsum, Limestone, Shale, Coal, Uranium, Clay |
| ImoOil & gas | Lead-zinc, Salt, Lignite, Limestone, White sand & clay |
| Jigawa | Kaolin, Gypsum, Limestone, Trona (soda ash), Granite, Quartz, Tin & columbite, Iron ore |
| Kaduna | Gold, Kaolin, Feldspar, Mica, Quartz, Graphite, Lithium, Rare earths & nickel-copper (2026 find) |
| Kano | Gold, Tin (cassiterite), Columbite, Kaolin, Gemstones, Granite |
| Katsina | Gold, Kaolin, Talc, Iron ore, Asbestos, Tourmaline, Manganese |
| Kebbi | Gold, Lithium, Marble, Gypsum, Copper, Lead-zinc, Manganese |
| Kogi | Iron ore, Limestone, Coal, Dolomite, Marble, Kaolin, Tantalite, Gold |
| Kwara | Lithium, Gold, Marble, Iron ore, Tin (cassiterite), Columbite-tantalite, Feldspar, Mica |
| LagosOil & gas | Glass sand, Bitumen, Clay |
| Nasarawa | Lithium, Barite, Salt (brine springs), Tin (cassiterite), Columbite-tantalite, Lead-zinc, Limestone, Coal, Gemstones |
| Niger | Gold, Talc, Kaolin, Marble, Tantalite, Granite, Copper, Lead-zinc |
| Ogun | Limestone, Phosphate, Kaolin, Clay, Feldspar, Bitumen, Gemstones |
| OndoOil & gas | Bitumen, Glass sand, Kaolin, Limestone, Coal, Granite, Gemstones |
| Osun | Gold, Talc, Granite, Tin (cassiterite), Feldspar, Kaolin, Columbite |
| Oyo | Marble, Gold, Kaolin, Talc, Tantalite, Gemstones, Granite |
| Plateau | Tin (cassiterite), Columbite, Tantalite, Coal, Kaolin, Lead-zinc, Barite, Gemstones (topaz, amethyst) |
| RiversOil & gas | Glass sand, Silica sand, Clay, Marble, Lignite |
| Sokoto | Gold, Kaolin, Limestone, Phosphate, Gypsum, Salt (brine springs), Columbite-tantalite |
| Taraba | Lead-zinc, Barite, Gemstones (sapphire, ruby, topaz, tourmaline) |
| Yobe | Gypsum, Diatomite, Limestone, Kaolin, Trona (soda ash), Silica sand |
| Zamfara | Gold, Lithium, Copper, Iron ore |
Sources: Nigerian Geological Survey Agency state mineral resources maps; Ministry of Solid Minerals Development; NEITI 2023 Solid Minerals Audit Report; state government investment agencies. Lists show the major recorded deposits per state, not every occurrence; oil & gas status follows official derivation recognition. Verified August 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many mineral resources does Nigeria have?
The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development puts it at about 44 different mineral types occurring in more than 500 locations across the country — a figure the ministry has used officially since the mid-2010s. Seven of them are designated strategic minerals: coal, iron ore, bitumen, gold, limestone, lead-zinc and barite.
What are Nigeria's 7 strategic minerals?
Coal, iron ore, bitumen, gold, limestone, lead-zinc and barite. The federal government designated these seven in June 2020 as the minerals with the greatest potential for industrial development and revenue.
Which states in Nigeria have gold deposits?
Gold is recorded in 15 states and the FCT area, most notably Zamfara, Osun (the Ilesa goldfield), Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger and Sokoto. The full set on this page: Bauchi, Cross River, Edo, FCT, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Osun, Oyo, Sokoto, Zamfara.
Which state has the most mineral resources in Nigeria?
There is no official ranking of states by number of mineral types. By production volume, NEITI's 2023 solid minerals audit lists Ogun, Kogi and Rivers among the top producing states — driven largely by limestone, granite and sand for cement and construction.
Where is coal found in Nigeria?
Enugu State is Nigeria's historic coal centre — the "Coal City" — mined since 1915. Coal and lignite deposits are also recorded in Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Delta, Gombe, Imo, Kogi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers.
Where is bitumen found in Nigeria?
The bitumen belt runs through the south-west, with Ondo State holding the largest deposits (the Agbabu area); occurrences extend into Delta, Edo, Enugu, Lagos, Ogun. Nigeria's bitumen reserve is officially estimated among the largest in the world.
Which states produce lithium in Nigeria?
Nasarawa State has emerged as the main hub of Nigeria's lithium rush, with processing plants sited there; lithium is also recorded in Kaduna, Kebbi, Kwara, Zamfara. Interest has grown sharply since the early 2020s on electric-vehicle battery demand.
Who owns mineral resources in Nigeria?
The federal government. The Minerals and Mining Act 2007 vests ownership and control of all solid minerals in the Federal Government of Nigeria, licensed through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Mining Cadastre Office. Crude oil and gas are governed separately under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, regulated by the NUPRC.