Edo State takes the lead in mineral production, contributing a significant 3.7 million tonnes of mineral products to Nigeria’s laterite supply in 2021, according to the recently released report titled Mineral Production Statistics (2021) by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Ogun State ranked first in overall mineral production with a total of 32 million tonnes, while Kogi State claimed the second spot with 18.4 million tonnes. Cross River State recorded 11.6 million tonnes of mineral products.
The NBS report highlights that Edo State’s major mineral products in 2021 included clay, feldspar, gold, granite aggregate, granite dust, laterite, limestone, and sand. The state produced 214,997 tonnes of clay, 4,000 tonnes of feldspar, 6,300 tonnes of gold, 474,879 tonnes of granite aggregate, 81,654 tonnes of granite dust, 41,284 tonnes of laterite, 2.8 million tonnes of limestone, and 37,500 tonnes of sand.
Governor Godwin Obaseki previously emphasized the state’s commitment to attracting more investors in the solid minerals sector. With major cement producers Dangote and BUA having large factories in Edo State, the Governor highlighted the state’s comparative advantage in the sector.
The state aims to welcome strategic investors who will capitalize on its abundant mineral deposits, further driving the growth of the manufacturing sector.
