The Yobe State Government has announced plans to intensify solid mineral exploration and exploitation as part of efforts to diversify the state’s economy and reduce dependence on federal allocations.
Governor Mai Mala Buni stated this during a Mining Stakeholders’ Forum held in Damaturu on Thursday, where he reaffirmed that the Yobe Mining Development Company Limited (YMDCL) is the sole agency authorized to coordinate all exploration and mining activities across the state.
Buni described the Yobe Mining Development Company as the state’s “one-stop-shop” for mining operations and investment facilitation.
“Yobe State is richly endowed with mineral resources such as limestone, gypsum, kaolin, granite, quartz, and silica, among many others. Yet, for decades, these gifts of nature have remained grossly untapped and underutilized,” he said.
The governor said the state’s objective is to chart a coordinated course for the growth of the mining sector in line with federal policies, community inclusion, and environmental responsibility.
“The time has come to turn these hidden potentials into productive assets that will create jobs, generate wealth, and advance the socio-economic development of our people,” Buni added.
He emphasized that responsible and transparent mining operations could serve as a major driver of Yobe’s economic resilience, youth employment, and industrial growth.
“We envision a mining sector that operates within a transparent regulatory framework, upholds environmental sustainability, promotes public-private partnerships, and encourages local participation while attracting credible foreign investment,” the governor said.
Buni also tasked stakeholders to focus on key thematic areas including mineral mapping, data presentation, investor engagement, community participation, and institutional alignment to maximize the sector’s potential.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Yobe Mining Development Company, Engr. Bamodu Yerima, said the agency had completed feasibility studies in three major mineral sectors — limestone, gypsum, and trona (soda ash) — in collaboration with reputable consulting firms.
He said the studies were conducted in accordance with international standards through transparent procurement processes aimed at attracting credible investors.
According to Yerima, the company has also organized artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) cooperatives in Fika, Fune, Gulani, Gujba, Yusufari, and Nangere Local Government Areas to formalize their operations, provide training, safety tools, and market access.
He revealed that the company had established a Community Development Trust Fund, which allocates 5–10 percent of project profits to education, healthcare, and water infrastructure projects in host communities.
“The Yobe Mining Development Company ensures that mining drives local livelihoods, peace, and shared prosperity at the grassroots,” Yerima said.
He further disclosed that the company had engaged several international and local financial institutions — including the Islamic Development Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), BADEA, Afreximbank, AFC, NEXIM Bank, and the Bank of Industry (BOI) — to support financing, beneficiation, and value addition in mineral-based manufacturing.
Participants at the forum, drawn from across Nigeria and Germany, commended the Yobe State Government for its proactive approach to economic diversification and industrialization.
Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the state government and investors to formalize partnerships in mineral exploration and value-chain development.
