By Abdullahi Bala
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has reinforced its commitment to mineral value-addition and export development in Zamfara State following the adoption of a strategic roadmap by the Joint Sub-Committee of the State Committee on Export Promotion aimed at unlocking the state’s vast solid mineral potential.
The resolution was reached during a stakeholders’ meeting of the sub-committee held on July 6, 2026, at the Secretariat of the Zamfara State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ZACCIMA) in Gusau.
The meeting, convened under the auspices of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), brought together representatives of the RMRDC Zamfara State Coordinating Office, ZACCIMA, the Zamfara State Ministry of Environment, the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and key private sector operators to chart a pathway for the development and export of the state’s strategic mineral resources.
Stakeholders identified gold, lithium, copper and iron ore as Zamfara’s priority minerals and resolved to undertake a comprehensive inventory of their locations, occurrences and available geological information across the state’s 14 local government areas.
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Speaking during the deliberations, the representative of the RMRDC State Coordinator, Mr Abdullahi I. Bala, cautioned against reliance on unverified local data and urged the committee to complement information obtained from relevant government agencies with current research findings and credible databases.
He specifically recommended the utilisation of the Council’s Raw Materials Information System (RMIS) to develop an up-to-date and reliable mineral database capable of supporting government planning, attracting investment and enhancing evidence-based decision-making.
The recommendation received unanimous endorsement from members of the committee, while the NEPC State Coordinator acknowledged the Council’s strategic contribution to the initiative and confirmed RMRDC’s membership of the Technical and Information Sub-Committee charged with coordinating the mineral data compilation exercise.
The committee further resolved that mineral locations should be prioritised based on accessibility and prevailing security conditions to facilitate informed investment decisions and future field verification activities.
As part of measures to ensure effective implementation of its mandate, the committee adopted its Terms of Reference and established three specialised sub-committees covering Finance, Legal Matters, and Technical and Information Services.
The latest development underscores RMRDC’s statutory mandate of promoting the sustainable development, efficient utilisation and value-addition of Nigeria’s raw materials for industrial growth and economic diversification.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that sustained collaboration among RMRDC, NEPC and other relevant institutions would position Zamfara as a leading hub for mineral development, beneficiation and value-addition in Nigeria.
