Natural resources in Nigeria and their locations

Nigeria is enriched with an abundance of natural resources also known as mineral resources. They can be found in all 36 states of the nation. Apart from oil and gas, most of the other resources found in the country have not really been fully explored. The abundance of these resources is a big plus for Nigeria and her people. Because the exploration of these resources can add enormously to the progress of the nation. This article looks at all natural resources in Nigeria, their locations, and their uses.

While Nigerians may complain of hard economy. The country is sitting on abundance of natural resources that if tapped, can bring growth and economic relief. As a Nigerian, you can be able to explore some of these resources. As a foreign investor, you can explore these resources.

What are natural resources?

Natural resources are materials or substances occurring in nature which can be exploited for economic gain according to Oxford dictionary They are nature given substances that are found in the earth and are very beneficial for economic growth.

A good example is oil and gas which can be found all over the Niger Delta in Nigeria and has been sustaining the Nigerian government for decades.

Note: Outside of oil and gas, all other natural resources listed here are underexploited in Nigeria

Natural resources in Nigeria and their locations

Below are the natural resources in Nigeria:

1. Gold

Gold is one of the most lucrative mineral resources in the world. It is very much in demand the world over. Very useful and important to the global economy. Gold is certainly one of the most valuable natural resources in Nigeria

Uses of gold

Gold can be used for the following purposes:

• Dentistry and Medicine
• Money/Finance (e.g Gold coins )
• Electronics and Computers
• Medals and Statues
• Jewellery
• Glassmaking
• Aerospace
• Computers

Where to find gold in Nigeria

Below are the states you can find gold in Nigeria:

• Abia
• Abuja
• Bauchi
• Ebonyi
• Edo
• Kaduna
• Kebbi
• Kwara
• Niger
• Osun
• Oyo
• Sokoto
• Zamfara

2. Oil and Gas

Oil and Gas is the backbone of the Nigerian economy. It is one of the most important resources in the world. There are many uses of oil and gas. It is very important for industries, for homes and every economy. Oil and Gas is the most valuable natural resources in Nigeria.

Uses of Oil and Gas

Below are the uses of Oil and Gas:

• Petrol (Gasoline)
• Residual Fuel Oil
• Lubricants
• Heating Oil
• Diesel Fuel
• Jet Fuel
• Propane
• Asphalt
• Kerosene
• Still gas
• Hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGL)
• Aviation petrol

Where to find Oil and Gas in Nigeria

Oil and gas can be found in the following states in Nigeria:

• Abia
• Akwa Ibom
• Bayelsa
• Delta
• Edo
• Imo
• Cross River
• Ondo
• Rivers
• Gome
• Bauchi

Note: Gombe and Bauchi are yet to be fully explored after the president indicated the present of oil.

3. Bitumen

Bitumen is a black viscous mixture of hydrocarbons obtained naturally. It can also be obtained through petroleum distillation. And it is sometimes called Asphalt. There are so many uses of Bitumen from engineering to Agriculture. Nigeria has the second largest deposit of bitumen in the world, spanning approximately 120km.

Uses of Bitumen

Bitumen are used for the following:

• Constructions of roads, runways and platforms
• Water proofing to prevent water seepage
• Roofing
• Sealing and insulating
• Soundproofing
• Shoe soles
• Soil stabilization
• Disinfectants
• Explosives
• Canal lining to prevent erosion

Where to find Bitumen

Bitumen can be found in the following states in Nigeria:

• Edo
• Lagos
• Ogun
• Ondo

4. Coal

Coal is a hard rock which is mostly carbon but includes other elements like hydrogen, sulphur, oxygen and nitrogen. It is very useful to the world in many ways. The estimate of coal in Enugu state alone is 3 billion tons.

Uses of coal

Below are the uses of coal:

• Electricity generation
• Production of Steel
• Cement manufacturing
• Gasification and Liquefaction
• Domestic Use

Where to find coal in Nigeria

You can find coal in the following states in Nigeria:

• Bauchi
• Benue
• Enugu
• Nasarawa
• Ondo
• Plateau
• Zamfara

5. Iron ore

Iron ore are minerals or rocks that metallic iron are extracted from. Mostly for economic reasons. As you may know, iron is very important and useful to the world. There are over 3 billion tones of iron ore found in Kogi, Enugu, Niger, Zamfara, and Kaduna States.

Uses of Iron ore

Below are the uses of Iron ore:

• Production of iron
• Steel production
• Powdered iron
• Radioactive iron
• Black iron oxide

Where to find Iron ore in Nigeria

Below are the states you can find Iron ore in Nigeria:

• Anambra
• Bauchi
• Benue
• Delta
• Edo
• Kogi
• Kwara
• Nasarawa
• Plateau

6. Lead and Zinc

Lead is a widely used metal all over the world. It is very crucial in developments the world over. The estimated reserve in Nigeria is well over 10 million tons of lead and 80,000 tons of zinc.

Uses of Lead and Zinc

Lead and Zinc are used for the following:

• Roofing
• Batteries
• Galvanization of steel
• Die casting
• Construction
• Ammunition
• Electroplating
• Chemicals
• Cable wrapping
• Medicine

Where to find Lead and Zinc in Nigeria

Below are places you can find lead and Zinc in Nigeria:

• Abia
• Abuja
• Akwa Ibom
• Anambra
• Bayelsa
• Benue
• Ebonyi
• Enugu
• Imo
• Cross River
• Kano
• Niger
• Plateau
• Taraba

7.  Limestone

Limestone is a sedimentary rock that is mainly contained of calcium carbonate. It is very important and useful to the world. Limestone in the Southwest region of Nigeria alone has been estimated at 31 million tonnes.

Uses of Limestone

Limestone is used for the following:

• Building and construction
• Agriculture
• Fillers in manufactured goods
• Industries

Where to find Limestone in Nigeria

Below are states that you can find Limestone in Nigeria:

• Abia
• Akwa Ibom
• Anambra
• Bauchi
• Bayelsa
• Benue
• Borno
• Edo
• Enugu
• Imo
• Cross River
• Kaduna
• Ogun
• Ondo
• Sokoto

8. Barytes (Barite)

Baryte also known as Barite is a mineral consisting of barium sulphate. It is useful to the world. Its main properties are its high specific gravity (4.5), very low solubility; it is non-toxic, and also chemically and physically unreactive.

Uses of Barytes

Find the uses of Barytes below:

• Weighting filler
• Paint and plastic filler
• TV screen
• Glass
• Radiation shielding
• Oil industry
• Medicine ( It is used for a barium meal or an upper gastrointestinal series before doing a contrast CAT scan)

Were to find Barytes in Nigeria

Below are places that you can find Barytes in Nigeria:

• Benue
• Cross River
• Nasarawa
• Plateau

9. Salt

Salt is mineral resources that consists mainly of sodium chloride. It is very useful and important to the world. There so many uses of salt.

Uses of salt

The following are the uses of salt:

• Manufacturing chlorine and sodium hydroxide
• Manufacturing of paper pulp
• Human consumption
• Manufacturing of plastics
• Water conditioning processes
• De-icing highways
• Agriculture

Where to find salt in Nigeria

Below are places to find salt in Nigeria:

• Abia
• Akwa Ibom
• Anambra
• Benue
• Ebonyi
• Imo
• Cross River
• Kastina
• Nasarawa
• Plateau
• Sokoto

10. Tin

Tin is a chemical element of  of the carbon family. It is of great value, it has a lot of uses. It is used the world over for various purposes.

Uses of  Tin

The following are the uses of Tin:

• Tin-plating
• Solders
• Tin Chemicals
• Lead-Acid Batteries
• Copper Alloys

Where to find Tin in Nigeria

Below are places that you can find Tin in Nigeria:

• Bauchi
• Plateau

11. Uranium

Uranium is radioactive chemical element. It is a very useful and important natural resources. It is used for many reasons.

Uses of Uranium

Below are the uses of Uranium:

• Power generation
• Used as ballast in airplanes and boats
• Smoke detectors
• Medicine (Radiotherapy and gamma sterilization)
• Nuclear power plants
• Nuclear weapons
• Ammunition and armour.

Where to find Uranium in Nigeria

Below are states you can find Uranium in Nigeria:

• Akwa Ibom
• Bayelsa
• Cross River
• Adamawa
• Taraba
• Plateau
• Bauchi
• Kano

12. Clay

Clay is a finely-grained natural rock or soil material. It is very useful to the world in diverse ways.

Uses of Clay

Below are the uses of clay:

• To make bricks and roofing tiles
• Pottery making
• Agriculture
• Construction

Where to find clay in Nigeria

Below are places that you can find clay in Nigeria:

• Abuja
• Akwa Ibom
• Anambra
• Bauchi
• Benue
• Borno
• Delta
• Edo
• Kaduna
• Lagos
• Nasarawa
• Ogun
• Ondo
• Oyo
• Plateau
• Rivers
• Sokoto

13. Gypsum

Gypsum also known as calcium sulfate hydrate is a soft sulfate mineral. It is very useful to the world.

Uses of Gypsum

Below are the uses of Gypsum:

• Manufacturing of wallboard
• Manufacturing of cement
• Soil conditioning
• Gypsum blocks
• Additive to turbid water
• Food additive
• Colour additive for drugs and cosmetics
• Primary ingredient in toothpaste

Where to find Gypsum in Nigeria

Below are states that you can find Gypsum in Nigeria:

• Adamawa
• Anambra
• Bauchi
• Bayelsa
• Benue
• Borno
• Delta
• Edo
• Gombe
• Imo
• Kogi
• Ondo
• Sokoto

14. Niobium

Niobium is a chemical element with the symbol Nb and atomic number 41. It is a soft, grey, ductile transition metal, which is often found in the minerals pyrochlore and columbite. Niobium has a high melting point and is used in alloys, particularly in steelmaking, where it is used to produce a more stable and stronger metal. It is also used in the production of superconducting materials, as well as in the aerospace and automotive industries.

Uses of Niobium

Below are uses of Niobium

• Production of high-strength, low-alloy steels
• Production of superconducting materials
• In the making of high-strength, lightweight alloys for use in jet engines and other aircraft components.
• Production of high-performance exhaust systems
• Making of high-quality, corrosion-resistant jewelry

Where to find Niobium in Nigeria

Below are states that you can find Niobium in Nigeria

• Plateau
• Abuja
• Kogi
• Nasarawa
• Gombe

15. Tantalite

Tantalite is a black mineral that is the main source of the chemical element tantalum. It is typically found in granitic and plutonic rocks, and is often associated with other minerals such as columbite, niobium, and tin.

Uses of Tantalite

Below are the uses of Tantalite:

• Production of high-strength, heat-resistant alloys
• Production of electronic components
• To produce chemical compounds, including tantalum carbide
• Production of surgical instruments
• Used in the jewelry industry

Where to find Tantalite in Nigeria

Below are the states where you can find Tantalite in Nigeria:

• Cross Rivers
• Nasarawa
• Kogi
• Osun
• Ekiti
• Kwara

16. Bauxite

Bauxite is a sedimentary rock that is the main source of aluminum. It is typically found near the surface of the Earth and is made up of a mixture of hydrated aluminum oxides, along with various impurities such as iron, silicon, and titanium.

Uses of Bauxite

Below are the uses of Bauxite:

• In the production of aluminum
• Used in abrasive blasting
• Production of refractory materials
• Production of a variety of chemicals, such as alumina, aluminum hydroxide, and sodium aluminum sulfate
• Production of cement
• Production of ceramics

Where to find Bauxite in Nigeria

Below are the states where you can find Bauxite in Nigeria;

• Plateau
• Ondo
• Ekiti
• Adamawa

Also read: Most profitable investment opportunities in Nigeria