Nigeria is a country blessed with many talents and diverse cultures. But its attributes go beyond those two; Nigeria has many natural resources you might not even know about.
You’re either in doubt or curious. If yes or yes, check out the list below:
1. Iron Ore
Iron ore is quite enormous in Nigeria. Itakpe in Kogi state is believed to have the purest deposits, but it can also be found in Nasarawa, Benue, Kwara, Plateau, Bauchi, Abia, and Anambra. In case you don’t know, iron ore is a mineral in which metallic iron is extracted when heated.
The minerals mostly extracted from iron ore are magnetite and iron oxides hematite. Iron is used to make most steel, including cars and building construction. It can be dark grey, deep purple, or rusty red in colour.
2. Coal
Coal is a black sedimentary rock containing carbon and other elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and sulphur. A British mines engineer, Albert Kitson, first discovered it in Nigeria in 1909 in Udi Ridge, Enugu. Apart from Enugu, the country has reserves in Kogi, Plateau, and Benue states, respectively. Coal is very useful for the production of electricity, steel, and cement. Nigeria’s coal has low sulphur but is environmentally friendly.
3. Tin
Tin is a soft, silvery-white metal. Historically, tin and bronze have been used to produce bronze. But now, manufacturers of tin cans and the automobile industry use it. Tin mining in Nigeria began after it was discovered by the natives of Keffi. Tin is very predominant in Plateau state.
4. Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock that contains calcium carbonate. It can be found in Ogun, Kogi, Cross River, Benue, Enugu, and Sokoto states. They are utilised in cement making, roads, and building materials. They also serve as fillers in paint, toothpaste, and soil conditioner products.
5. Petroleum
Petroleum is an oil that contains hydrocarbons; it looks like a yellowish-black mixture. It is the most prominent natural resource in Nigeria. Oil was first discovered in Oloibiri in Niger Delta in 1956 by a company called Shell. Before petroleum can be useful, it goes through distillation to get other products such as lubricants, kerosene, diesel, jet fuel, and chemicals used in making paint, fertilizers, rubber, fabrics, and pesticides.
6. Gold
The discovery of gold dates back to ancient times during the reign of Ife, Warri, and Benin kingdoms. Gold production in Nigeria started in 1913; it was modernised in the 1950s when bauxite, tin, and iron ore were found. Gold reserves are mainly in Kebbi, Niger and Zamfara states. It is a metal used to produce jewelry and other luxury items.
7. Bitumen
Bitumen combines black and sticky organic liquids with condensed polycyclic hydrocarbons. Bitumen has to be diluted or heated before it can flow. Nigeria has one of the largest bitumen deposits in the world, mainly in Ondo state. It can be refined into fuel oil, gasoline, and asphalt.
8. Lead and Zinc
Lead and zinc is one of the oldest metals in human civilisation. Lead is a heavy metal with a high corrosion resistance. Zinc has a higher melting point and resistance to wear and tear. Lead is used in car batteries, and zinc can be found in construction materials. Nigeria’s lead and zinc reserves are in Nasarawa, Ebonyi, and Benue.
