Yobe Govt Charts Path to Unlock 26 Minerals for Economic Boom
By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu
The Yobe State Government has unveiled a bold plan to turn its rich but largely untapped mineral deposits into a major driver of jobs, investment, and industrial growth.
Governor Mai Mala Buni made the announcement during a Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum on Mining Sector Development held at the Government House, Damaturu.
He described the forum as a “strategic convergence of minds and mandates” aimed at repositioning Yobe as a leading hub for responsible and sustainable mining.
Buni said Yobe is blessed with an abundance of mineral resources- including limestone, gypsum, kaolin, granite, quartz, and silica- yet most have remained underexploited for decades.
“The time has come to turn these hidden potentials into productive assets- assets that will create jobs, generate wealth, and accelerate the socio-economic development of our people,” the governor declared.
He outlined his administration’s vision for a transparent and inclusive mining sector built on strong public-private partnerships, environmental sustainability, and tangible community benefits.
At the heart of this strategy, he said, is the Yobe Mining Development Company Limited (YMDCL)- the sole agency mandated to coordinate exploration, licensing, and all mining-related activities in the state.
“YMDCL serves as a one-stop shop for investors, regulators, and development partners,” Buni explained, reaffirming the government’s determination to build a solid institutional foundation for the sector.
He also called for stronger collaboration between the state government, federal regulatory agencies, traditional rulers, and private investors to ensure the success of Yobe’s mining vision.
“This stakeholders’ engagement symbolizes our collective readiness to move forward- from potential to productivity, from resources to revenue, and from promise to performance,” he added.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Solid Minerals, and Tourism, Hon. Kaigama Umar, disclosed that Yobe is endowed with no fewer than 26 identified mineral resources.
“These include limestone, gypsum, trona, diatomite, kaolin, phosphate, granite, silica sand, clay, and laterite,” Umar said.
He revealed that the state government has commenced a comprehensive geophysical survey across all 17 local government areas to produce a reliable data map of mineral sites- a move designed to guide investors and ensure transparency in exploration and development.
Umar also announced that five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) would be signed during the forum between the Yobe State Government and both national and international investors.
According to him, development finance institutions currently in discussions with the state include the Islamic Development Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), NEXIM Bank, Bank of Industry (BOI), and the Fortuna & Gibson Fertilizer Initiative.
“These partnerships reflect global recognition of Yobe’s institutional reforms and industrial vision under Governor Buni’s leadership,” the commissioner noted.
He urged all stakeholders to continue supporting the government’s drive to turn Yobe’s mineral potential into engines of industrial growth and shared prosperity.
“Together, we can make Yobe a model for sustainable mineral development- one where prosperity goes hand in hand with environmental protection and social inclusion,” Umar concluded.
