Alex Omenye

The Kogi State Government has acquired 15 mining licenses as part of its strategic plan to unlock the economic potential of over 30 solid mineral resources in the state.

Governor Usman Ododo made the announcement on Wednesday at the 2025 International Conference of the Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining and Materials Engineers in Lokoja.

Represented by his deputy, Joel Oyibo, the governor said the move was part of efforts to position Kogi as a leading mining destination in Nigeria and Africa. “We are committed to transforming Kogi into a mining hub, unlocking the value of our mineral wealth for the benefit of our people and the nation,” he stated.

The governor noted that the licenses cover valuable and underutilised resources including limestone, coal, iron ore, tin, and bauxite. He revealed that the state has also invested heavily in modern mining machinery for the Kogi State Mineral Processing Company to enhance efficiency and support industrialisation.

Kogi is currently home to key mineral assets such as the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, Itakpe Iron Ore Mines, and Obajana and Mangal Cement Plants. Ododo added that laws are being drafted with the State Assembly to curb illegal mining and promote sustainable practices.

The state is also targeting the training and engagement of 25,000 youths in the mining sector and has launched 11 engineering programmes at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, including mining and metallurgical engineering.

Solid Minerals Minister Dr. Dele Alake, in his keynote address, stressed that mining offers Nigeria a viable path to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons. Prof. AbdulRahman Salawu, chairman of the conference and Vice Chancellor of CUSTECH, urged investors to tap into the incentives Kogi has created to harness its mineral wealth.