List of the natural resources in Nigeria

Without doubt, Nigeria is one of the countries of the world blessed with tons of rich natural resources. A plus to the country’s economy.

These natural resources can be separately found in different states across the country. At least, each and every state in Nigeria has one or two natural resources.

But before delving into the list of the natural resources in Nigeria, it’s important we give a working definition for the topic of discourse.

What is natural resources?

Natural resources can be defined as any sources of wealth that appear or occur naturally and can be used by humans.

They can be classified into different categories based on several or different principles. Hence, natural resources can be classified as renewable and non-renewable.

List of the natural resources in Nigeria and their location

Without further delay, below is the list of the top natural resources that can be found in Nigeria and their respective locations.

1. CRUDE OIL

You’ll agree that Nigeria is the richest country with crude oil deposits in the whole of Africa and ranked 4th in the World.

The crude oil deposits can therefore be found in the South-south (mostly in Niger Delta), few states in the south-east and some states in the south-west.

These states include Delta, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Ondo, Anambra and Imo State.

2. COAL

Nigeria is blessed with some states that are rich in coal. As a matter of fact, Enugu state in the Eastern part of the country is popularly known as the “the coal city”.

Other states in Nigeria with vast deposits of coal include; Benue, Edo, Kogi, Delta, Plateau, Anambra, Kwara, Bauchi, Imo, Ondo, and Adamawa.

3. IRON ORE

Iron ore is one of the essential rock minerals which is usually formed as a result of the combined chemical reactions of iron and oxygen in marine and freshwaters.

These particular natural resources is very abundant in West Africa and up to 3 billion tonnes of Iron ore deposits are found in Nigeria States.

Some of these states include Kwara, Kogi, Kaduna, Enugu, Zamfara, Niger, and Bauchi.

4. COPPER

Copper or copper ore concentrate is another mineral resources occurring naturally and available in the Earth crust of Nigeria.

Its occurrence can only be found in Northern part of Nigeria such as Bauchi, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Pleatue, Kano, and Gombe State.

5. GOLD

Many African countries are rich and blessed with Gold and this mineral resources also occurs naturally in Nigeria.

It is prominently found in Osun state in Iperindo and other areas around Maru, Gurmana, Tsohon Birnin Gwari-Kwaga, Anka, Birni Yauri, Malele, and Okolom-Dogondaji.

Other states of the country with smaller deposits are Abuja, Abia, Bauchi, Edo, Cross River, Oyo, Kogi, Sokoto, Niger, Kebbi, Kaduna, and Zamfara.

6. LEAD PB

Another natural occurrence that can be found in Nigeria is Lead PB. Lead is a metallic element that is basically produced from a mineral called galena.

States with lead deposits in Nigeria include, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, FCT, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, and Zamfara state.

7. LIMESTONE

Limestone as a mineral deposit or resources in Nigeria is of great proportion, although it is not renewable.

Unlike some of the minerals, limestone is usually processed and quarried in Nigeria by local and international construction companies.

Vast majority of limestone mineral deposit in Nigeria occurs in Cross River and Ebonyi states — although it can still be found in — Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Ogun, Ondo, and Sokoto State.

8. DOLMOTE

Also, Dolomite as a natural resource can be found in greater deposits in Nigerian States like to Abuja, Edo, Oyo, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Yobe.

9. CLAY

Africa as a continent is endowed with lots of clay-rich countries and larger amount of clay deposits can be found in most states in Nigeria.

The states with the most richest clay in Nigeria are Abuja, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, and Sokoto.

10. SALT

More so, salt is another common mineral and natural resources that is available in Africa and can be found in larger deposits on Nigerian soil.

Salt occurs naturally and can be found in Ebonyi State which is known as “the salt of the nation”.

Other states with salt deposits in Nigeria includes Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Imo, Katsina, and Sokoto State.

11. GRANITE

Just like limestone, granite is a natural stone and it is in abundance in Africa and muchly deposited in Nigeria.

Its deposition in Nigeria has seen the introduction of numerous local quarrying and international companies coming into the country.

In Nigeria, granites is popularly called gravel or chippings and can be found in every single state across the federation.

It, however, occur in larger quantities in states like Abuja (Federal Capital Territory) Cross River, Ekiti State, Kogi, Enugu, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Oyo, Osun, and Ogun.

12. SILVER

Nigeria is one of the few countries in Africa that has silver or silver ore deposits. Cool, right?

However, it’s important to state that silver is not that much deposited in Nigeria compare to other minerals and metals.

To find Silver in Nigeria, one has to travel down to the northern part of the country, most especially Kano and Taraba State as it’s largely deposited in the two states.

13. BITUMEN

Interestingly, throughout the whole world, Nigeria has the second largest deposit of bitumen, spanning approximately 120km.

Bitumen which is sometimes called asphalt can be found in Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, etc.

14. TIN

In the same vein, Tin is one of the natural resources deposited in Nigeria and it’s a chemical element that belongs to the carbon family.

Mostly, Tin can be found in the Northern part of the country particularly Bauchi and Plateau states being the two states that can be found in excess.

CONCLUSION

Although the economy of Nigeria is not favourable to the masses, there are abundances of mineral resources that are still untapped in the country.

The above (though not limited) are the list of the natural resources in Nigeria and their respective locations.