The Enugu State government has made significant progress in developing its solid minerals sector, unveiling comprehensive exploration efforts and regulatory reforms aimed at unlocking the state’s mineral wealth and boosting economic growth.
Samuel Okoro, Special Adviser to Governor Peter Mbah on Solid Minerals and Mining, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Government House, Enugu. He said wide-ranging geological exploration—including geospatial mapping and geochemical investigations—had been conducted to determine the quantity and quality of mineral deposits across the state.
“Exploration is the first phase of any mining activity. We carried out mapping, geospatial and geochemical activities to know exactly what we have across the state. When the Senate Committee came to Enugu, and we briefed them, they were very proud of what we have done and even said they would recommend our approach to other states,” Okoro said.
Historically recognised as Nigeria’s coal city, Enugu still possesses significant coal reserves, which recent geological findings indicate are much larger than previous estimates of 300 million tonnes. The state plans to harness this resource to generate about 1,000 megawatts of electricity, addressing energy shortages and supporting industrial growth.
The government has also begun sanitising the mining ecosystem. Okoro revealed that over 100 mineral titles were discovered, but less than one per cent were actively developed. Many licences were held by speculators with no intention to mine, prompting the government to retrieve and reallocate them to genuine investors.
In addition, over 40 illegal mining operations across locations such as CAMP 2, Akwukwe, Udenu, and parts of Ozalla have been shut down, with some offenders arrested and prosecuted to restore order and strengthen regulation.
Okoro expressed confidence that with exploration groundwork and regulatory reforms underway, the solid minerals sector will soon become a major contributor to Enugu State’s economic growth and revenue generation.
