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MINING
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Sub-Topic 1: Components of the Nigerian mining industry
Mineral resources are substances that are formed naturally in the earth. They can be referred to as free gift of nature because they are not brought into existence or produced by any human intervention.
Mining is the process by which minerals are extracted or removed from the earth. Nigeria is richly endowed with 34 different minerals which include coal, gold, columbite, lead barites, cassiterite, gemstone, talc, feldspar, bitumen, iron ore and so on. At the moment, Nigeria economy depends heavily on crude oil and natural gas. However, seven other minerals deposits have been prioritized by the Ministry of Solid Mineral Development for reforms in the mining sector. These include coal, bitumen, limestone, iron ore, barites, gold and lead or zinc.
Mineral resources can be classified into solid and non-solid minerals based on forms. Solid minerals are hard and firm with a definite shape e.g. coal, gold, bauxite, bitumen, iron, ore, while the non-solid minerals are without form or shape e.g., gases and crude oil.
Although organized mining of solid mineral started in Nigeria as far back as 1903, the industry only accounts for about1% of the nations’ GDP until the discovery of vast deposit of oil resources in 1956. This however, shifted attention away from solid mineral to oil resources. The civil war of 1960s also affected the industry as many mining expatriates had to leave the country. These had altogether led to the dead state of the industry until recently (starting with the creation of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development).
Meanwhile, the oil and gas mining industry remain vibrant and accounts for about one-fifth of Nigeria.
Importance of Mineral resources in Nigeria
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