The Federal government yesterday raised hopes of a major break-through in the country's effort developing alternative mineral resource aside from oil and gas, when it revealed the discovery of gold to the depth of 3,000 meters with an estimated two million ounces in the Western part of Nigeria.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke who disclosed this at the presentation of the World Bank-sponsored Nigerian Airborne Geophysical Survey Data phase II in Abuja, said the import of the latest development is that Nigeria may well be on her way to joining countries like Ghana in supplying gold to the world market.
According to Madueke, a coring done last year by the small mining companies, to the depth of 3,000 meters, has proved more than 300,000 ounces, with 2 million ounces estimated..


“ The importance of this fantastic piece of news is probably best appreciated within the context of the knowledge that Nigeria has gold schist belts in the western half of the country that are very similar to those of Ghana”, she said.
She said surveys have shown that Nigeria is richly endowed with a range of solid minerals which if properly managed and exploited may in the near future become the engine of our national economic growth.


She said the Ministry has decided to place special focus on seven of the minerals which includes, bitumen/tar sand with estimated reserves of 27bn barrels of oil equivalent, coal (2.7 billion tonnes), iron ores (3 billion tonnes), limestone (2.23 billion tonnes), barytes (14 million tonnes) and lead/zinc sulphides one million tonnes) .

Madueke described the completion of the geophysical survey phase II as something that would facilitate mineral exploration, ground water prospecting, pollution and geo-hazard monitoring.

“The survey also measures the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRIM) which provide detailed information on terrains, vegetations, landforms, settlements, roads and drainages. The data is therefore extremely useful in security surveilance and development planning”, she said.

The Minister further said plans are underway geological, mineral and geo-chemical mapping of the country with a view to providing all the necessary data needed to adequately tap the mineral resources to our economic advantage.

She said the Ministry is putting in place a gemstone certification process, adding that it has reached agreement with internationally renowned Nigeria-born Jeweler to design a Jewelry line, using exclusively Nigerian gemstones.

This line of Jewelry will be launched for the international and domestic market in March this year, she said.

Earlier, the geologist involved in the preparation the survey data, Prof. Collins Reeves said a mechanism will be put in place to enable interested scientists to study, interpret and analyse the geophysical survey data and that the outcome of their study will be made public next year.

He said the experience of Brazil could be helpful in Nigeria quest for effective utilization of solid mineral resources.
http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/forum/main-square/47726-gold-discovery-western-part-nigeria.html

Good one! At least our over-reliance on oil and gas would be reduced!

Una don come again?
Una wan rely on gold dis time
It will finish one day

What is the logic of selling gold to buy food and other consumables
When we can plant it all


Pls go back to the farm
I dont think we need to sell all our natural resources
Thats y d word RESERVE is used

dis oduduwa people wan waste our oil money in exploration of garden of eden in sango land

There has always been gold in Western Nigeria. In fact Ilesa is known for gold and many illegal goldmines exist in that axis.

Abagworo: There has always been gold in Western Nigeria. In fact Ilesa is known for gold and many illegal goldmines exist in that axis.

my question is why is it not legally mined? that a huge source of revenue that is left to waste away. Yet we complain of how bad the economy is.

This is either an old news or a badly reported one.

That's what dz trash and u believed... Dats how dz Yoruba fools wud be imagining tins when they don't have what to do...
Now I knw dat "An idle mind is d devil's workshop"

But this news is old naw! Since 2010!

homesteady: But this news is old naw! Since 2010!

if you just heard it like i did, its news. The substance of the article is not when it was published, but what it portends! If there is 2million ounces of gold deposit in nigeria why is it not legally mined or concession by the FG for would be minners?

Nigeria - an eldorado in disguise

tot diezani was pet minister?

Nigerians simply look for any excuse to migrate to the southwest, they just cant stay away.

Cant say i blame them really, the western part is very hospitable to foreigners.

alotofgrace: Nigeria - an eldorado in disguise

tot diezani was pet minister?

I think you mean southwest is the destination of choice for migrants.

Its the america of nigeria.

tpia@:
Nigerians simply look for any excuse to migrate to the southwest, they just cant stay away.

Cant say i blame them really, the western part is very hospitable to foreigners.

So Tpia, you are also a tribalist!

ujoinme: The Federal government yesterday raised hopes of a major break-through in the country's effort developing alternative mineral resource aside from oil and gas, when it revealed the discovery of gold to the depth of 3,000 meters with an estimated two million ounces in the Western part of Nigeria.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke who disclosed this at the presentation of the World Bank-sponsored Nigerian Airborne Geophysical Survey Data phase II in Abuja, said the import of the latest development is that Nigeria may well be on her way to joining countries like Ghana in supplying gold to the world market.
According to Madueke, a coring done last year by the small mining companies, to the depth of 3,000 meters, has proved more than 300,000 ounces, with 2 million ounces estimated..

From the bold....how recent is this report?

lygn19: That's what dz trash and u believed... Dats how dz Yoruba fools wud be imagining tins when they don't have what to do...
Now I knw dat "An idle mind is d devil's workshop"

That is d problem with u people, u don't even know anything about Nigeria except to support jeg right or wrong and abuse others. Anyway western part of Nigeria that has gold reserve in not just southwestern Nigeria but all the western belt from south to noth. Are u satisfy Haterzz!!!

When i saw ds topic , i tot it was musiwa dat create d thread
@topic, ok, more to cme from western 9ja

dat gold most not be exploit until we divide nijeiriya........
Nah our gold hahahah

Omen100:



please its not time yet to celebrate, you may have to re: read the thread again because it doesn't add up. The last time I checked, madam frog eyes was the minister of petroleun resources.

GOD bless u, thats the first thing the caught my eyes and I said wat, that can't be right.