Nigeria has a vast amount of untapped mineral resources.

The Nigerian Federal Government has declared 2007 the 'Mineral and Mines Year'. Nigeria has numerous solid mineral deposits and the government is throwing the sector open to international investors.

The country has 76 minerals that are scattered across all the states of the federation. Nigeria's portfolio of minerals include energy minerals, industrial minerals, metallic minerals, semi precious minerals and gemstones.

The Director General of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Mr Siyan Malomo, said that the country cannot give all its attention to oil while it has this array of solid mineral resources.