Montage Africa Mines and Solid Minerals Limited has secured a new Exploration Licence from the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO), strengthening its presence in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector and paving the way for expanded mineral exploration activities.
The newly issued Exploration Licence No. 72005 EL covers 20 square kilometres, comprising 100 cadastral units, across parts of Afikpo South and Ohaozara Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State.
The licence authorises the company to undertake exploration activities targeting lead and zinc.
The latest acquisition marks another milestone in Montage Africa Mines’ growing portfolio of mining and exploration interests in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, as the company continues to expand its operations across multiple mineral commodities.
According to the company, the new licence will enable it to scale up its exploration programme and further assess the mineral potential of Ebonyi State, particularly in the areas covered by the newly granted licence.
Montage Africa Mines already has active interests in gold and baryte exploration and mining in Nigeria.
The company has commenced gold mining operations in Niger State, while it is also undertaking exploration activities for gold and baryte in Cross River State.
With the addition of lead and zinc exploration in Ebonyi State, the company is broadening its mineral activities and strengthening its multi-commodity approach to Nigeria’s mining industry.
Lead and zinc are important industrial minerals with applications across several sectors, including construction, manufacturing, infrastructure, batteries and galvanising.
Their exploration and potential development could therefore contribute to the supply of raw materials for domestic industries while supporting Nigeria’s drive to reduce dependence on imported minerals.
The company’s growing footprint comes amid renewed efforts by the Federal Government to attract private investment into the mining sector, promote local mineral processing and encourage greater value addition to Nigeria’s natural resources.
For Montage Africa Mines, the new exploration licence provides an opportunity to undertake detailed geological investigations and establish the quantity, quality and commercial viability of lead and zinc deposits within the licensed area.
The company is expected to deploy appropriate geological, geophysical and other modern exploration techniques as it progresses with its programme in Ebonyi State.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja the development, the company’s Director of Operations, Akeem Olanigan, said the expansion of Montage Africa Mines’ exploration and mining activities was part of its broader strategy to contribute to Nigeria’s economic diversification through responsible mineral development.
He said the company remained committed to creating jobs, attracting investment and promoting local value addition while developing Nigeria’s mineral resources in a responsible and sustainable manner.
Olanigan added that the company’s growing portfolio was designed to position Montage Africa Mines as a significant indigenous participant in Nigeria’s emerging mining industry.
The company’s current portfolio now spans gold mining in Niger State, gold and baryte exploration in Cross River State, as well as lead and zinc exploration in Ebonyi State.
The expansion is expected to strengthen Montage Africa Mines’ capacity to develop a diversified, multi-commodity mining business capable of supplying raw materials to domestic industries while contributing to Nigeria’s mineral export potential.
As exploration activities commence in the newly licensed area, the Ebonyi project could become an important addition to the company’s growing mineral portfolio and further enhance its contribution to the development of Nigeria’s lead and zinc value chain.
Plateau Faces Environmental Threat As FG Identifies 4,000 Abandoned Mining Pits
The Federal Government has identified more than 4,000 abandoned mining pits across Plateau State, raising concerns over the growing environmental and safety threats posed by legacy mining activities.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, stated this on Monday following the death of seven people in the collapse of an abandoned tin-mining pit in Kassa, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.
Alake warned artisanal miners against entering abandoned mining sites without the necessary licences, permits and safety assessments, describing the practice as dangerous and avoidable.
He urged artisanal miners to form cooperatives and obtain the required approvals, noting that licensed operators would have access to field training through the ministry’s Artisanal Mining Department as well as opportunities to develop safer and more sustainable livelihoods.
According to the minister, the large number of abandoned mining pits in Plateau State represents not only a serious environmental challenge but also an opportunity to transform degraded sites into productive assets.
“The challenge before the state and the Federal Government is how to turn these potential pits of death into centres of joyful prosperity,” he said.
Alake said that the Federal Government was seeking partnerships with private investors to rehabilitate and repurpose abandoned mining sites for ventures such as energy generation, tourism and fishery.
He added that the ministry had so far rehabilitated 59 abandoned mining pits as part of efforts to address the environmental consequences of mining activities.
To accelerate the rehabilitation programme, the ministry has commenced a strategic initiative involving Geographic Information System satellite mapping and Artificial Intelligence to identify, map and characterise abandoned mining sites.
The initiative, being implemented through a public-private partnership with PPP act Nigeria Alliance and geomatics specialist, Into matics, has Plateau State as its pilot location.
Alake said the deployment of technology would enable the government to accurately map the thousands of abandoned tin pits across the state and develop appropriate reclamation strategies for the affected locations.
He said the Federal Government was establishing an Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation Fund to prevent the continued accumulation of abandoned mining sites.
Under the proposed arrangement, mining companies would contribute to the fund, which would be used to rehabilitate mining sites where operators fail to undertake restoration after closure.
The initiative, the minister said, would strengthen environmental protection while ensuring that mining communities derive sustainable benefit
SMDF Holds Interactive Sessions for FG Grant Applicants in Abuja
The Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, has announced two interactive information sessions for prospective applicants seeking funding under its Early-Stage Mineral Exploration and Research Grant Endowment (EMERGE) initiative.
According to the statement from the Agency on Teusday, the sessions, scheduled for Thursday, August 20, and Friday, August 21, 2026, are aimed at providing prospective applicants with detailed information on the grant programme, including eligibility requirements, available funding opportunities and the application process.
According to the Fund, the sessions will be hosted by the EMERGE team and will provide applicants with an opportunity to ask questions, seek clarification and better understand the requirements before submitting their applications.
The first session, focusing on Exploration and Critical Minerals, will hold on Thursday, August 20, from 12 noon to 1 p.m., while the second session, dedicated to Research and Development, is scheduled for Friday, August 21, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon.
SMDF urged interested individuals, researchers, innovators and other eligible stakeholders to participate in the sessions to gain a clearer understanding of the grant programme and application requirements.
Applications remain open, with prospective applicants encouraged to visit smdf-emerge.com.ng for further information and to submit their applications.
It will be recalled that FG Launched Fund EMERGE on June 10, 2026, in Abuja, as part of efforts to support early-stage mineral exploration, critical minerals development and applied geoscience research across Nigeria.
The initiative is designed to provide competitive grants aimed at bridging financing gaps, generating reliable geological data and promoting research and innovation in Nigeria’s mining sector.
