News
Steron Mining Hits 1 Million-Tonne Lithium Milestone, Signals New Era for Nigeria’s Mining Sector
Cyril Ogar
The Chief Executive Officer of Steron Group, Muhammed Umar, revealed that vast lithium deposits discovered at the company’s former granite quarry have repositioned the site into a major critical minerals project, with inferred resources of over one million tonnes.
Umar made this known while hosting participants of the Africa Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit 2026 on a guided tour of the company’s mining site in Wasa District, Abuja where visitors were exposed to various stages of mining operations, including drilling, blasting, and underground tunnelling processes used in mineral extraction.
According to him, the site initially functioned solely as a granite quarry until extensive exploration activities uncovered commercially viable lithium deposits, marking a significant turning point for both the company and Nigeria’s mining sector.
“The project started as a granite quarry, but exploration activities revealed significant lithium mineralisation, opening a new chapter for the company and Nigeria’s mining industry,” Umar stated.
He further disclosed that ongoing exploration efforts have also led to the discovery of tantalite occurrences, a development he said broadens the site’s mineral potential and strengthens its attractiveness to investors.
“Exploration activities are still ongoing, and we have now discovered occurrences of tantalite. This marks the beginning of even greater opportunities for mineral development,” he added.
Describing lithium as one of the world’s most strategic minerals, Umar emphasized its growing importance in battery production, electric vehicles, and renewable energy technologies.
“Lithium is essential for the production of batteries and is helping to power the future. It remains one of the most important minerals driving the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy,” he said.
Umar disclosed that Steron Mining established an inferred lithium resource exceeding one million tonnes in 2023 and is intensifying exploration to further expand the resource base.
Beyond extraction, the company is also focusing on local value addition through beneficiation—a process that upgrades mineral ore by separating waste materials from mineral-bearing deposits before they are supplied to processing facilities.
According to Umar, this process boosts lithium concentration from between one and three percent to approximately 67 percent, significantly increasing its commercial value and making it suitable for advanced industrial processing.
He commended the Federal Government for implementing policies aimed at deepening indigenous participation in the mining sector while simultaneously attracting foreign direct investment.
“The current administration has made deliberate efforts to prioritise local participation in the mining industry. These policies have enabled indigenous companies like ours to grow while creating opportunities for international investors,” he said.
Umar also praised the Africa Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit 2026 for creating a strategic platform to showcase Nigeria’s abundant mineral wealth to investors across Africa and the global market.
Reaffirming the company’s commitment to responsible mining, community development, and operational safety, he stressed that host communities remain central to Steron Mining’s long-term strategy.
“We have prioritised our host communities by placing their safety, well-being and development at the centre of our operations. Their success is our success,” he noted.
He reaffirmed that Steron Mining remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s rise as a key player in the global critical minerals value chain through sustainable and responsible mineral development.
With global demand for lithium and other critical minerals surging amid the clean energy transition, Steron Mining’s breakthrough signals a major opportunity for Nigeria to strengthen its position in the rapidly expanding global minerals market.
News
Eagle Times Newspaper Will Be Voice for Nigerians – Publisher Chukwunyere Vows
Joel Ajayi
The Publisher of The Eagle Times Nigeria, Sir Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, has pledged that the newspaper will promote accountability, credible journalism and public-interest reporting in its coverage of national affairs.
Chukwunyere made the commitment on Thursday, October 1, 2026, during the official unveiling and launch of The Eagle Times Nigeria.
He said the new media organisation was established not merely to add another newspaper to Nigeria’s media landscape, but to provide a platform committed to serving the public interest.
According to him, the newspaper’s guiding philosophy, “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation,” places a responsibility on the organisation to listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight issues affecting their daily lives and scrutinise those entrusted with public responsibilities.
“To be a voice for the people means that we must listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight their concerns and give visibility to issues that affect their daily lives,” he said.
The publisher added that The Eagle Times would be guided by accuracy, fairness, professionalism, credibility and responsible journalism, stressing that the newspaper would not publish stories merely because they were sensational.
“We will verify. We will investigate. We will seek the other side. We will correct our mistakes when we make them,” he said.
Chukwunyere further stated that the newspaper would endeavour to give individuals and organisations the opportunity to respond whenever allegations were made against them.
“Our commitment is not to any political party, government or individual. Our primary commitment is to journalism, to truth and to the Nigerian public,” he said.
He noted that the newspaper was launching at a time when the media industry was undergoing rapid transformation, with audiences increasingly consuming news through digital platforms, including websites, television, podcasts and social media.
He said The Eagle Times would therefore operate as a multimedia organisation, combining its newspaper with digital platforms and The Eagle Times TV to reach audiences across different channels.
According to him, the organisation also intends to create opportunities for young journalists, writers, photographers, producers, digital creators and other media professionals to develop their skills and contribute to journalism and national development.
Chukwunyere said the newspaper’s coverage would include politics, governance, business, economy, security, judiciary, education, health, technology, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and international affairs.
He, however, said the organisation intended to distinguish itself not only by the subjects it covered but by the quality and approach of its journalism.
We want to tell stories that matter, we want to investigate issues that require investigation, we want to highlight Nigerians who are making a difference, and we want to give communities that are often ignored an opportunity to be heard,” he said.
The publisher acknowledged the challenges involved in establishing a newspaper, saying the venture required investment, commitment, professional discipline and the courage to pursue an idea.
He expressed appreciation to the management, editorial, reporting, production and digital teams, as well as families, friends, partners and supporters who contributed to the establishment of the organisation.
Chukwunyere also assured readers, viewers and the newspaper’s digital audience that The Eagle Times would strive to earn their trust and remain accountable to the standards it had set for itself.
He said the newspaper’s success would not be measured only by circulation figures, website traffic or social media followers, but also by the confidence Nigerians placed in its journalism.
“Today, we spread our wings. Today, The Eagle Times takes flight,” he said, reaffirming the newspaper’s commitment to its slogan: “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation.”
-
Featured7 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured6 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured7 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured7 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured5 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Featured7 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
-
Sports4 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News2 years agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
