By Yinka Kolawole
Nigeria is positioning its vast critical mineral deposits as the foundation for a new wave of industrial growth, following the unveiling of a strategic roadmap designed to convert the country’s mineral wealth into investments in clean energy manufacturing and domestic value addition.
The roadmap, presented by the Council for Critical Minerals Development in the Global South to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, identifies pathways for leveraging Nigeria’s lithium, copper and bauxite resources to build local industries, deepen mineral beneficiation and attract investment into green manufacturing.
Presented on the sidelines of the just-concluded 5th African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS 2026), the report comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to move beyond exporting raw minerals towards developing integrated value chains that support industrialisation, job creation and energy transition.
Receiving the report, Alake said it provides a clear policy blueprint for aligning Nigeria’s clean energy ambitions with its mineral endowment by mapping domestic demand for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, battery energy storage and electric vehicles against existing supply and trade patterns.
According to the minister, the analysis confirms that Nigeria possesses the strategic minerals required to power the country’s green energy transition while creating opportunities for local processing and manufacturing.
“By mapping domestic demand, supply and trade patterns, this report provides mineral-specific policy pathways to leverage Nigeria’s resources for our own green industrialisation,” Alake said.
He noted that the report would guide policy reforms aimed at strengthening mineral beneficiation, expanding local value addition and creating stronger forward linkages between the mining sector and manufacturing industries, enabling Nigeria to retain more value from its natural resources.
Market analysts say the strategy could significantly improve Nigeria’s attractiveness to investors seeking reliable critical mineral supply chains as global demand for battery metals and clean energy technologies continues to rise.
It was also announced that the next phase will include the development of a mineral-to-manufacturing localisation roadmap, promotion of South-South investment partnerships and collaboration with domestic stakeholders to accelerate green industrialisation projects.
The initiative is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s position in the rapidly expanding global critical minerals market while supporting the Federal Government’s ambition to transform the mining sector into a major driver of industrial growth, exports and non-oil foreign exchange earnings.
