Nigeria
Rare Earth Sector Overview
REO Production (2025 est.)
2 kt
Reserves
N/A
Source: USGS MCS 2026
Decentralized Artisanal Tin Mining
Nigeria's rare earth production emerges as a byproduct of artisanal and small-scale tin mining operations across the Jos Plateau. Unlike traditional industrial rare earth mines, these operations are highly decentralized, with hundreds of small-scale miners extracting tin-bearing alluvial deposits that contain monazite (rare earth-bearing mineral).
The monazite is separated during tin processing and exported - primarily to China - for rare earth oxide extraction. This model creates a unique supply chain: informal upstream, formal midstream. Growth is explosive (+100% YoY) but visibility is limited due to the distributed nature of operations.
Supply Chain Model
Emerging Disruptor
Nigeria represents a new paradigm: distributed extraction feeding centralized processing. Low capital intensity but limited traceability.
Global Production Share
REO mine production 2025 (est.) · Source: USGS MCS
Global Reserves Share
REO reserves · Source: USGS MCS 2025 / 2026
Mining Projects in Nigeria
Production in Nigeria comes predominantly from artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) operations rather than registered industrial projects. These operations are informal, distributed, and not tracked in standard project registries - so no individual project records are maintained here.
Production volumes are estimated from export data and USGS surveys. See the stats above for the latest figures.
Processing Facilities in Nigeria
Nigeria has no known formal rare earth processing facilities. Extracted material is typically exported as crude concentrate, primarily to China, for downstream separation and refining.