Harnessing Nigeria’s mineral resources for sustainable infrastructure development: challenges and prospects

Abstract

Abstract Nigeria is endowed with vast solid mineral resources that remain largely underexploited, despite their potential to catalyse national infrastructure development and drive inclusive economic growth. This study examines the challenges and prospects of linking Nigeria’s mineral wealth with infrastructure development, within the broader context of sustainable development and regional integration. Drawing from empirical data, national reports, and comparative global case studies, the research identifies institutional fragmentation, policy and regulatory bottlenecks, weak governance, and limited financing mechanisms as key barriers to integrated mineral-infrastructure planning. It also explores successful models from countries such as Mozambique, Guinea, Botswana, Chile, and South Africa, providing strategic insights applicable to Nigeria’s context. The study proposes a framework for developing mineral corridors, embedding infrastructure obligations in mining licenses, leveraging resource-for-infrastructure partnerships, and enhancing inter-agency coordination. By implementing these reforms, Nigeria can unlock the transformative potential of its mining sector, bridge its infrastructure gap and foster long-term economic diversification. The findings contribute to policy discourse on resource-based development and offer actionable recommendations for stakeholders across government, industry, and development finance institutions.