Nigeria Abandoned Mining for Oil. Can It Recover?

In this special edition of Blindspot Africa, recorded in Cape Town during the Investing in African Mining Indaba, Charles Gyamfi Ofori speaks with Emily Anwuli Achor-Offodile a geologist, Secretary of Women in Mining Nigeria, founder of Ziva Community Initiative, and board member of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP). The conversation explores Nigeria’s mining sector and how the country can move beyond its long-standing dependence on oil and gas to unlock the economic potential of its vast solid mineral resources. Emily shares how Ziva Community Initiative works with artisanal and small-scale miners and smallholder farmers through capacity building, responsible mining education, and financial literacy. She challenges the tendency to label artisanal miners as illegal operators, arguing that many enter the sector out of economic necessity and need the knowledge, support, and opportunities to operate more responsibly. The discussion also examines Nigeria’s mining history, its mineral potential—including tin, gold, granite, kaolin, and tantalite—and the urgent need to develop local processing and manufacturing industries. Emily explains why industrial minerals deserve greater attention, highlighting how Nigeria could create jobs, grow its economy, and retain more value by processing minerals locally instead of exporting raw materials and importing finished products. Women’s participation in mining is another key theme. Drawing on her experience with Women in Mining Nigeria, Emily discusses progress in gender inclusion, the importance of representation in decision-making, and why women and affected communities must have a meaningful role in shaping mining policies and sharing the benefits of extraction. In this episode, we explore: Nigeria’s mining potential beyond oil and gas How artisanal miners can adopt responsible mining practices Why industrial minerals could create jobs and grow local industries The importance of local processing and value addition Women’s participation and leadership in the mining sector Community engagement, benefit-sharing, and environmental protection How Nigeria can attract investment while creating opportunities for local investors The role of tin and other minerals in the global energy transition Watch this episode of Blindspot Africa for an insightful discussion on responsible mining, women’s empowerment, and the future of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.