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Buy Minerals from Nigeria: Licensed Sources, Assays and Export Permits

Import & Export Guides By wigmoretrading October 19, 2026

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Sourcing hub · Nigerian minerals

Buy minerals from Nigeria, legally and on verified grades

Updated October 2026Reading time 9 minBy Wigmore Trading
Nigeria team on the groundLicensed sources onlyIndependent assays

Nigeria has gold in the north-west schist belt, lithium in its pegmatites, tin and columbite on the Jos Plateau, and lead, zinc and barite along the Benue Trough. Buyers rarely struggle to find offers. The hard part is finding a seller who holds a real mining title, can show the minerals legally left the ground, and will let you inspect before you pay. That is the part we do.

Licensedsources only: mining leases or Licence to Purchase and Possess Minerals
PermitMineral Export Permit from the Mines Inspectorate for every export
Assayindependent testing before payment
No rawlithium ore exports without local processing

Minerals we source in Nigeria

Mineral Main producing states Buyers & uses What to ask for
Gold Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, Kaduna, Osun Refiners, bullion buyers, jewellers Assay certificate, proof of origin, royalty receipt
Lithium (spodumene, lepidolite) Nasarawa, Kwara, Ekiti, Kogi, Plateau Battery supply chains Li₂O grade; raw ore now needs local processing before export
Tin (cassiterite) & columbite Plateau, Bauchi, Nasarawa Smelters, electronics supply chains Sn and Nb₂O₅/Ta₂O₅ grades, conflict-minerals documents
Lead, zinc & galena Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Zamfara Smelters, battery makers Pb/Zn content, moisture, Ag credit
Silver Mostly a by-product of lead–zinc ores Refiners Usually sold as silver credit within Pb concentrate, rarely as pure silver
Barite Nasarawa, Taraba, Cross River, Benue Oil and gas drilling mud Specific gravity (API 4.1–4.2)
Wolframite (tungsten) Plateau, Kano, Bauchi Tool and alloy makers WO₃ grade
Coal Enugu, Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa Cement plants, industry Calorific value, ash and sulphur
Limestone & dolomite Ogun, Cross River, Benue, Sokoto, Edo Cement, glass, agriculture CaO / MgO content
Silica sand, kaolin & feldspar Ekiti, Plateau, Kogi, Ogun Glass, ceramics, paint, paper SiO₂ and iron content, particle size
Gemstones Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Oyo Cutters, jewellers Tourmaline, aquamarine, sapphire, topaz; buy graded parcels only

Producing states from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development’s published mineral maps and WithinNigeria (June 2026). Deposits do not always mean active, licensed mines; we check the title for every lot.

“Nigerian diamonds” are a red flag

Nigeria has no commercial diamond mining. Offers of rough diamonds “from registered Nigerian mines” are a common scam, often with requests for upfront export or insurance fees. We don’t trade diamonds. If you have been offered some, read our anti-fraud guide before paying anything.

If a seller can’t show you these, walk away. Every lot we handle comes with them.

A valid source

A mining lease, small-scale mining lease or quarry lease from the Mining Cadastre Office, or a Licence to Purchase and Possess Minerals for traders.

Royalty paid

Royalty is paid to government on the minerals being exported, with a receipt.

Mines inspection

An inspection report from the Federal or Zonal Mines Officer in the state where the minerals are.

Export permit

A Mineral Export Permit from the Mines Inspectorate, supported by NEPC registration and tax clearance.

Independent assay

Sampling and testing by an independent lab, so grade and price are agreed on facts.

Shipping documents

Bill of lading or air waybill, certificate of origin and the export permit, released against your payment terms.

Requirements summarised from ICA (December 2025) and WithinNigeria (June 2026). Fees and steps change; we confirm the current process for each export.

How we protect buyersWe never ask for upfront “loading”, “insurance” or “certificate” fees. You see inspection photos, the assay and the export permit before the balance is paid, and payment can be by letter of credit.

Request a mineral offer

Tell us the mineral, grade and volume. We come back with available lots, assay results and a price basis.

Your request opens in WhatsApp or your email app, ready to send. Nothing is stored on this page.

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FAQs

Questions buyers ask us

Can a foreign company buy minerals directly from a Nigerian mine?
Yes, through a licensed Nigerian exporter. Mining titles are only granted to Nigerians or Nigerian-registered companies, so foreign buyers usually buy through a licensed trader or set up a local company.
Who issues the mineral export permit?
The Mines Inspectorate of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, after inspection, royalty payment and checks on the source of the minerals.
Can I export raw lithium ore from Nigeria?
Government policy requires lithium to be processed locally before export, so we offer processed concentrate rather than raw ore.
Does Nigeria produce diamonds?
No, not commercially. Treat any offer of “Nigerian diamonds” as a likely scam.
How do you agree on grade and price?
Each lot is sampled and tested by an independent laboratory. Price follows the agreed grade, usually against an international benchmark.
What payment terms do you accept?
Letters of credit, escrow, or payment after inspection and assay. We never ask buyers for upfront fees.

Looking for Nigerian minerals?

Tell us the mineral, grade and volume. We will come back with verified lots, assays and terms.

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