Nigeria risks future mineral imports, geophysicists warn

Nigeria's mineral-rich land faces a looming threat of having to import minerals it once extracted, according to geophysicists. As the government intensifies efforts to attract investment and halt raw ore exports, experts warn that strategic deposits could be conserved only through deliberate conservation. The Nigerian Association of Exploration Geophysicists (NAEG) argues that a national conservation policy is necessary to protect high-grade and strategic mineral deposits for future generations and the country's long-term industrial development.

NAEG President Akin George emphasized that while the government is mandating value addition to exported minerals, it should be balanced with a national conservation policy. He cautioned against mining all minerals immediately and preserving only those for future use, as minerals are finite resources. The NAEG president called for a national conservation policy, particularly for strategic minerals like lithium, chromite, uranium, platinum, and bauxite, which are found in commercially viable quantities.

The Federal Government's Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, highlighted the importance of reliable geoscientific data for mining investment. He said that geophysics is a critical tool for unlocking Nigeria's underground wealth, protecting the ecosystem, and securing the foundation of national infrastructure. The government has expanded geological mapping and undertaken targeted high-resolution airborne geophysical surveys to improve knowledge of Nigeria's mineral endowment.