Kaduna discovers gold, lithium, copper deposits

Governor Uba Sani’s determination to develop the solid mineral sector has led to the discovery of substantial gold, lithium, copper, and nickel deposits in Kaduna State.

The Managing Director of Kaduna Mining Development Company (KMDC), Engr. Shuaibu Kabir Bello, disclosed this at the just concluded Nigerian Mining Week 2025, which took place in Abuja.

According to him, the discovery was made during the exploration for tin in the pegmatite region of Gidan Waya, in Jemaa Local Government Area, leading to the inferred resource of 97MT of enriched ore bodies of tantalum, niobium, with associated tin and tungsten.

Engr. Bello further disclosed that the discovery was made by Kian Smith for the KMDC & Anka Metals JV after two years of exploration.

The Managing Director announced that KMDC has created the Jemaa Resource Project, which is a Special Purpose Vehicle to develop the assets.

He further said that the Jemaa Resource Project has constituted a Technical Steering Committee to oversee the drilling and resource confirmation.

“The recent discovery of the multi-metallic deposit in Kaduna State, particularly the nickel, is of national and geological interest,” the MD pointed out.

According to him, the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) will lead the Technical Steering Committee, adding that the agency has the statutory role of providing relevant geological data for Nigeria.

“NGSA commended Jemaa Resource Project and the Kaduna State Government for their transparency in data sharing and their call for an independent resource verification process.

“This collaboration will increase investor confidence in the Nigerian mining sector and also enrich and update the geoscience information for the economic development of Nigeria via its mineral resources,” he argued.

The Technical Steering Committee also includes the leadership of Nigeria’s reputable geological firms, Geocardinal Engineering Services Limited and Fundamental Integrated Site Appraisal Services Limited (FISAS).

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