Solid Minerals Sector Reforms

The Tinubu administration has repositioned solid minerals as a major pillar of Nigeria's economic diversification. Its reforms connect revenue, investment and domestic value addition.

The sector is recording growing receipts and strong investor interest. The administration is linking extraction to processing and productive industry within Nigeria so that more of the value stays at home.

Processing more value in Nigeria

The reform programme ties licensing and investment directly to domestic processing. Its goal is to retain economic activity within Nigeria, extending the value chain beyond extraction into processing, technical services and manufacturing inputs.

The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development's May 2025 review records lithium-processing projects at various stages of development. The ministry is also formalising artisanal mining through cooperatives and strengthening enforcement against illegal operations. Together, these measures advance investment, community participation and regulatory compliance.

A productive and accountable minerals sector

Lithium processing plants are being developed in Nigeria, marking a shift from exporting raw minerals to building industrial capacity at home. Investors are committing capital to the sector because the rules are clearer and enforcement is firmer.

For Nigerians, the reforms mean new jobs, stronger local supply chains and higher public revenue. Artisanal miners gain a route into the formal economy through cooperatives, while communities benefit from a better-regulated sector. The administration is building a minerals industry that creates lasting value for the nation.