Nigeria Mining Week 2026 has put a difficult question before Nigeria’s solid minerals industry: how can the country attract the investment needed to transform its mineral resources into productive mines, jobs and industries when security concerns, regulatory uncertainty and infrastructure gaps continue to discourage investors?
The question dominated discussions at the 11th edition of the conference in Abuja, where government representatives, mining operators, investors and international partners examined what must change to unlock the sector’s economic potential.
Held at the Abuja Continental Hotel from October 13 to 14, the main conference followed a pre-conference programme on October 12. Organised around the theme, “Unlocking Investment and Growth through Partnerships,” the event focused on attracting capital, strengthening regulation and building commercially viable mining projects.
Nigeria Mining Week 2026 exposes barriers to mining investment
One of the strongest messages from the opening day was that Nigeria’s mineral resources alone would not guarantee the growth of a competitive mining industry.
Participants identified insecurity along mining corridors, conflicting regulatory requirements, poor coordination among government agencies, inadequate infrastructure and limited access to finance as major obstacles to investment.
The President of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Oba Ayandele Ayanleke, said stronger cooperation among domestic and international stakeholders could help attract the expertise, technology and investment needed to expand the industry.
Ayanleke said: “The coming together of different stakeholders, not only within Nigeria but from outside, will lead to a convergence of ideas, technologies and investment, which will make the industry grow.”
He also identified insecurity around mining locations and disagreements over regulatory responsibilities between federal and subnational authorities as challenges requiring attention.
These concerns highlight the importance of establishing clear operating rules and improving security if Nigeria hopes to attract investors willing to commit substantial capital to mining projects.
Segilola gold mine provides evidence of Nigeria’s potential
The experience of Segilola Resources Operating Limited offered a practical example of what commercial mining can achieve in Nigeria.
Austin Menegbo, the company’s country manager, disclosed that the Segilola gold mine produced 91,910 ounces of gold in 2025, with Nigerians accounting for 99 per cent of its workforce, according to reports by Voice of Nigeria and BusinessDay.
The figures demonstrate the potential of large-scale mining to support domestic employment while contributing to the development of Nigeria’s solid minerals industry.
However, Menegbo warned that expanding the sector would require more than relying on the performance of a single commercial gold mine.
He called for better coordination among government ministries, departments and agencies, particularly where companies face overlapping requirements, conflicting directives and unclear approval timelines.
Menegbo also advocated a more consistent relationship between government and industry, arguing that engagement should continue beyond annual conferences.
His position highlights a central challenge for the sector: investors need to understand the rules, costs and timelines involved before committing funds to long-term projects.
Illegal mining requires more than enforcement
Discussions also examined how Nigeria could address illegal mining while helping artisanal and small-scale operators enter the formal economy.
Menegbo argued that enforcement should be accompanied by practical support, including technical training, safety education, access to finance and better geological information.
The objective is to distinguish between criminal operations that require enforcement and smaller operators who could benefit from pathways into legal, safer and more organised mining activities.
Without such measures, efforts to control illegal mining risk overlooking the economic circumstances that keep some operators outside the formal system.
Improved safety standards and stronger oversight would also help protect workers and communities affected by mining activities.
PwC calls for bankable projects and local processing
Cyril Azobu, partner and mining industry leader at PwC Nigeria, emphasised the need to turn the country’s mineral potential into projects capable of attracting investment and generating lasting economic value.
He identified the recently signed critical minerals framework between Nigeria and the United States as an example of international cooperation that could connect Nigeria’s resources with investment, technology and expertise.
Azobu said: “In an increasingly competitive global minerals market, Nigeria must position itself not simply as a source of raw minerals, but as a destination for investment, processing and value addition.”
The argument goes beyond extracting more minerals. Processing resources within Nigeria could create additional opportunities for manufacturing, technical employment and domestic businesses.
Achieving that objective, however, requires dependable energy, transport infrastructure, financing and a regulatory environment that allows projects to move from exploration to production.
Sweden highlights community trust and responsible mining
Sweden’s ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, highlighted the importance of environmental responsibility, traceability and relationships between mining companies and their host communities.
She said: “The licence that matters the most is the trust of the community.”
Her remarks underline a crucial distinction: securing the necessary government approvals does not automatically establish the community relationships needed for a mining project to operate successfully over the long term.
Westerholm also highlighted opportunities for cooperation between Nigeria and Sweden in technology, technical expertise and responsible mineral development.
Traceability is increasingly important because international buyers want evidence of where minerals originate, who produces them and the conditions under which they are extracted.
For Nigerian producers seeking international markets, stronger documentation and responsible operating practices could therefore become important competitive advantages.
Gold and steel take centre stage on Day Two
The second day of Nigeria Mining Week shifted attention towards mineral value chains, industrial development and the infrastructure required to support production.
According to the official conference programme, sessions included discussions on gemstone value chains, mineral exports, mining policy and governance, environmental and social responsibility, and power and logistics.
The afternoon programme featured the Gold Forum, examining how production, refining, trading and responsible sourcing could be better integrated into African and international markets.
The Steel Forum focused on revitalising Nigeria’s steel industry, including iron-ore supply, domestic processing, infrastructure, financing and the development of competitive industrial value chains.
A dedicated KMDC Deal Room was also scheduled to connect mining projects with financiers, prospective buyers and strategic partners.
These discussions are particularly relevant to Nigeria’s industrial ambitions. Mineral extraction creates opportunities, but a stronger domestic industry also depends on the ability to process resources, supply manufacturers and establish commercially sustainable businesses.
The official programme confirms the planned sessions; independently verified post-event findings from these Day Two forums were not available in the reporting reviewed for this article.
What Nigeria must do after Mining Week
Nigeria Mining Week 2026 brought several interconnected priorities into focus: improve security around mining operations, establish predictable regulations, strengthen geological information, expand access to financing and invest in infrastructure.
The figures reported by Segilola show that commercial gold production and substantial Nigerian workforce participation are possible. The challenge is to expand that experience across a broader pipeline of viable projects.
For government, investors and industry operators, the next step is to translate discussions into practical measures that can be implemented and assessed.
Partnerships will matter, but their success will ultimately depend on whether they produce more operating mines, stronger domestic processing capacity, safer workplaces and sustainable economic opportunities for Nigerians.
The central test for Nigeria’s mining industry is therefore not how many commitments are made at a conference, but how effectively those commitments translate into measurable progress.
