Apart from crude oil which constitutes over 90 per cent of its revenue, Nigeria is blessed with more than 40 natural resources that can be found in different parts of the country.
What Are Natural Resources?
Natural resources are resources that exist on earth without any action from mankind which can be put into use for economic gain through mining to make finished products for human use.
Nigeria has abundant of such resources spread across the states in Nigeria which can boost the economic growth of the country if tapped and used in the right way.
Sadly, most of the natural resources have not been fully exploited or under utilized for the economic development of the country. For instance, Nigeria still imports bitumen while Ondo and a few other states have a large deposit that can serve local use and the international market.
Significance of Nigeria’s Natural Resources To Investors
Most times, foreign investors embark on a search for where specific mineral resources can be in Nigeria.
Earlier, we published the list of states where barite can be found in Nigeria. Barite is one of the materials used in oil exploration and for other industrial use, pathetically, Nigeria still spends so much on the importation of barite.
Economically, all Nigeria’s 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, are blessed with at least one natural resource. Some states like Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Sokoto are blessed with more than 10 natural resources.
According to the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Nigeria is blessed with numerous natural resources, they are:
- Clay
- Barite
- Marcasite
- Bauxite
- Bismuth
- Marble
- Kaolin
- Salt
- Molybdenite
- Gemstone
- Granite
- Emeral
- Fluoride
- Betonite
- Cassiterite
- Tantalite/Columbite
- Iron-ore
- Phrochlore
- Lead/Zinc
- Wolfram
- Tin
- Coal
- Crude oil
- Lignite
- Limestone
- Uranium
- Tatium
- Gypsium
- Syenite
- Feldspar
- Butyles
- Gold
- Cassiterite
Natural Resources In Nigeria And Where They Can Be Found
Below is a list of 36 states in Nigeria and the natural resources peculiar to them and their economic importance to Nigeria’s economic growth
Which states have the highest number of natural resources in Nigeria?
From the data obtained from NEITI and the Ministry of solid minerals, Plateau has the highest number of mineral deposits, the state has 21, followed by another Northern state, Nasarawa which has 20, Kaduna is third on the list with 19 natural resources.
Below is the list of natural resources by each state in Nigeria including the FCT:
- Plateau: 21
- Nasarawa: 20
- Kaduna: 19
- Ondo: 12
- Sokoto: 12
- Edo: 11
- Oyo: 11
- Kogi: 10
- Bauchi: 10
- Benue: 10
- Anambra: 9
- Cross River: 8
- Delta: 8
- Bayelsa: 8
- Borno: 8
- Imo: 8
- Kwara: 8
- Kano: 7
- FCT, Abuja: 7
- Ogun: 7
- Akwa Ibom: 7
- Osun: 6
- Abia: 5
- Ekiti: 5
- Rivers: 5
- Adamawa: 4
- Lagos: 4
- Ebonyi: 3
- Enugu: 3
- Katsina: 3
- Niger: 3
- Zamfara: 3
- Yobe: 2
- Gombe: 2
- Jigawa: 1
- Taraba: 1
- Kebbi: 1
Recap:
- Natural resources are God’s creation, which can become economic value as a result of scientific research by mankind.
- Nigeria is blessed with more than 40 resources
- Plateau state has the highest concentration of mineral resources in Nigeria.
- Imo is the only state in Nigeria where marcasite can be found
The resources listed in this article is for investors overseas and at home to tap into by obtaining an operating licence for mining