By Yunus Olawale
*Kano State State Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Alhaji Hamza Safiyanu Kachako.
Kano State is positioning itself as a competitive destination for solid minerals investment, with plans to strengthen its mining policy framework, improve mineral mapping and showcase processed mineral products at the next Nigeria Mining Week.
The State Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Alhaji Hamza Safiyanu Kachako, disclosed this during an interview with The Miners Magazine at the Nigeria Mining Week 2026 in Abuja, where he outlined the state government’s efforts to develop its mineral resources and attract investors.
Paying tributes to support being given by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf,
Kachako, who led the Kano State delegation to the mining industry gathering for the second consecutive year, described this year’s event as impressive, noting that its organisation and participation reflected international standards.
Comparing the 2025 and 2026 editions, the commissioner said the event had provided an important platform for stakeholders, industry operators and the media to assess developments in the mining sector and identify opportunities for growth.
He stressed that Nigeria must move beyond its dependence on oil revenues by giving greater priority to the solid minerals sector as a viable source of economic diversification, employment and sustainable revenue generation.
“Whether we like it or not, we need to institutionalise this sector properly,” Kachako said, emphasising the need for a well-articulated framework capable of addressing the sector’s challenges while unlocking its economic potential.
Kano Seeks to Harness Mineral Wealth
The commissioner identified Kano’s mineral endowment as an opportunity for economic transformation if supported by effective policies, responsible mining practices and adequate investment.
According to him, a properly structured mineral development framework would help the state harness its resources profitably while addressing challenges associated with insecurity, illegal mining and strained relationships between mining operators and host communities.
Kachako noted that the opportunity extended beyond Kano, pointing to the mineral potential of Kaduna, Kebbi, Zamfara, Edo, Ogun and other states as evidence of the need for a coordinated national approach to solid minerals development. He argued that states should develop strategies suited to their respective mineral deposits, with emphasis on formalising mining operations, attracting private capital and ensuring that mineral exploitation delivers measurable economic benefits.
The commissioner maintained that a properly regulated and commercially viable mining industry could help change Nigeria’s economic narrative by expanding non-oil revenue sources and strengthening the country’s industrial base.
Policy Framework, Mineral Mapping, MIREMCO Among Achievements
Reflecting on the progress recorded since the previous edition of Nigeria Mining Week, Kachako said the Kano State Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources had made significant strides despite being relatively young when the state participated in the 2025 event.
He identified the development of a policy framework, mineral mapping initiatives, the constitution of the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), and the establishment of a state-owned mining company among the administration’s major achievements.
MIREMCO is designed to advise on mineral resources and environmental management matters while promoting compliance and cooperation among mining operators, host communities and government authorities.
The commissioner said the committee’s establishment was intended to strengthen coordination and ensure that mining activities were conducted in a manner that recognised the interests of the state, operators and affected communities.
He also highlighted the ministry’s engagement with key players in the mining industry, describing collaboration with stakeholders as essential to building a functional and investment-friendly sector.
According to Kachako, the state-owned mining company has also obtained a licence intended to support its operations through special-purpose vehicle (SPV) arrangements, an initiative he described as a significant step towards developing the state’s mining capacity.
He said the government would continue building on these foundations to position Kano as an attractive destination for investors seeking opportunities in mineral exploration, processing and related businesses.
Governor’s Backing Critical to Sector Development
Kachako attributed the progress recorded by the ministry to the support of the Kano State Governor, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf,
noting that the creation of a dedicated ministry demonstrated the administration’s recognition of the strategic importance of solid minerals to economic diversification.
He explained that the governor’s backing had been instrumental in advancing the ministry’s policy development, institutional arrangements and plans for a state-owned mining company.
According to him, the establishment of the ministry reflected a deliberate commitment to developing the sector and creating an enabling environment in which investors could operate with greater confidence.
The commissioner said Kano was working towards strengthening its institutional capacity and improving the conditions required for responsible investment in mineral exploration and exploitation.
He expressed confidence that sustained government support, effective regulation and stronger industry partnerships would help the state translate its mineral potential into tangible economic gains.
Kano Targets Processed Mineral Showcase in 2027
Looking ahead, Kachako expressed optimism that Kano State would participate in the next Nigeria Mining Week with processed mineral products to demonstrate progress in developing its resources and adding value locally. He said the state’s ambition was to move beyond presenting its mineral potential to showcasing tangible outputs from its mining development efforts.
“By God’s grace, we are going to be part and parcel, maybe one of the states that can come and display the processed minerals, maybe to see how the value was added on that minerals,” he said.
The commissioner added that Kano hoped to use the next edition of the event to demonstrate that it was emerging as a mineral-producing state with growing capacity for processing and value addition. Such a transition would represent an important step towards retaining more economic value within the state, creating employment opportunities and encouraging investment in mineral processing and related industries.
For Kano, the next phase will depend on translating policy development, mineral mapping and institutional reforms into commercially viable operations, while ensuring that mining activities comply with applicable regulations and environmental standards.
As Nigeria seeks to diversify its economy, the state’s experience underscores the importance of linking mineral endowment with effective governance, private-sector participation and local value addition.
The success of Kano’s ambitions will ultimately be measured not only by the resources it identifies or the institutions it establishes, but also by the extent to which those resources generate sustainable businesses, employment, government revenue and lasting benefits for host communities.
