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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
DNKI President Champions Humanitarian Service, Sustainable Community Development
Cyril Samania
The President of De Norsemen Kclub International (DNKI), Chief Oliver Patrick Ityohegh, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to humanitarian service, stressing the importance of supporting vulnerable people and improving community welfare beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day.
Ityohegh stated this during the organisation’s Cauldron Night and Award Presentation held to commemorate its 2026 Humanitarian Day celebration, theme: “Humanity First: Advancing Hope, Dignity and Community Well-being.” organised by the DNKI Abuja Chapter.
He emphasised that humanitarian service should be a continuous responsibility driven by compassion, solidarity and a commitment to making a meaningful difference in society.
According to him, DNKI’s humanitarian activities reflect its dedication to giving back to society and supporting people in need, while encouraging members to sustain initiatives that promote human dignity and community well-being.
He added that the organisation would continue to strengthen its humanitarian engagements through practical interventions aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable people and promoting community development.
Speaking at the event, the representative of the Abuja Chapter Chairman and Chairman of its Advisory Council, Prince Efiong Okpe, said the organisation’s humanitarian activities extended beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day on October 15.
Okpe explained that DNKI undertook several initiatives throughout the year, including blood donation exercises, visits to hospitals and correctional centres, as well as support for orphanages and other vulnerable groups.
According to him, the organisation also collaborated with humanitarian bodies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to identify areas of need and provide assistance within its available resources.
He described Humanitarian Day as an opportunity for members to renew their commitment to service and demonstrate solidarity with people facing difficult circumstances.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Planning Committee and Coordinator of the DNKI Gwagwalada Zone, Mr Etudaiye Hamzat, disclosed that the chapter had provided financial assistance to some members to help pay their children’s school fees, alongside distributing bags of rice and other relief items to members experiencing hardship.
Hamzat explained that the interventions followed concerns over the difficulties some members faced in meeting their family responsibilities, particularly the rising cost of their children’s education.
He maintained that supporting members in need was consistent with the organisation’s humanitarian principles, adding that DNKI remained committed to extending assistance to non-members and vulnerable communities as part of its commitment to leading by example.
Looking ahead, Hamzat said the Abuja Chapter planned to expand its humanitarian outreach to remote communities within the FCT, with particular attention to orphanages, schools and widows facing difficulties in meeting their family responsibilities.
He also recalled previous interventions for internally displaced persons (IDPs), which included the distribution of food, clothing and educational materials, noting that the chapter intended to scale up such initiatives in the coming year.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to outstanding members and distinguished non-members in recognition of their contributions to humanitarian service.
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