“KMDC is not simply a mining company but a catalyst for sustainable mining in Kaduna”

Exclusive interview with Engr. Shuaibu SK Bello, the managing director of the Kaduna Mining Development Company (KMDC) in Nigeria.  

Thank you for joining us. Let’s start with some background on the Kaduna Mining Development Company in Nigeria (KMDC). You have a proud history.
Thank you very much for the opportunity. At KMDC, our journey began in 2015 when the Kaduna State Government established us as a special-purpose vehicle to unlock the significant mineral wealth of the State. 

Our mandate was clear: to transform solid minerals from being a latent asset into a real driver of economic growth, job creation and sustainable development for our communities. 

Since then we have acquired and managed a large portfolio of mineral titles across the State, covering gold, lithium, rare earths and more, enabling strategic partnerships with domestic and international investors. 

We consider KMDC not simply as a mining company but as a catalyst for sustainable mining in Kaduna – integrating community engagement, environmental stewardship, security collaboration, and cutting-edge mining practice.  

In short: our history is one of transformation. From the establishment as a vehicle of the State Government, to now positioning Kaduna as a credible mining frontier in Nigeria and Africa.

Which stand-out KMDC mining projects do you want the regional and global extractive investment community to know about? 

There are several projects of which we are particularly proud, but if I were to highlight two, they would be: 

• The Jema’a Resource Project (Gidan Waya, Jema’a LGA): During my keynote address at the Mining week, we announced a major multi-metallic discovery of nickel ore bodies, which is a 2-year old project in collaboration between KMDC and ANKA Metals. We established an SPV to develop the asset, and we have constituted a technical steering committee (led by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency) to oversee drilling and independent resource verification.
  This is a game-changer in the sense that it signals that Kaduna is not only rich in single commodities but is emerging as a hub for multi-metal value-chains. 
• The Lithium processing plant at Kangimi (Kaduna–Jos Road corridor): We are delivering a first-of-its-kind lithium processing facility in Nigeria. The Kaduna State Government, working through KMDC and its partner, established this plant with the aim of processing lithium within Nigeria rather than exporting raw ore.
  This matters because the global lithium market is booming (driven by battery demand for EVs and grid storage) and by establishing processing in-state, we are aiming to capture more value, create jobs and anchor supply chains in Kaduna
  Beyond those two, I should mention our broader portfolio: with over 40 mineral titles across gold, lithium, rare earths etc., and our interactive “Mining Hotspot” map showing exploration and operational licenses across Kaduna. 

• For investors we want to stress: (1) access to corner-stone assets; (2) a state government partner committed to reform and enabling policy; and (3) a platform (KMDC) designed to de-risk entry and collaborate. 

What in your view are the most important steps that the Nigerian government has taken in the last few years to make the country’s mining sector an exciting proposition for mining companies? 

From my vantage point at KMDC, several key developments stand out: 

• The federal and state governments are increasingly formalising the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector. In Kaduna for example, we have piloted the formalization process and our target is over 10,000 artisanal miners, we plan to register them into clusters and cooperatives so that they become integrated into regulated supply-chains, improving safety, aggregation, traceability and market access.
•  Governments are simplifying licensing, permitting and regulatory frameworks. At the state level, the state constituted a Standing Committee on Mining Consent Regulatory Compliance, a mechanism to strengthen transparency, align procedures and reduce bottlenecks. 
• There is a push for downstream value-addition rather than just raw-material extraction. The establishment of the lithium processing plant in Kaduna is an illustration of this shift: rather than exporting lithium ore or concentrate only, the value chain is being anchored locally.  
• The availability of large-scale resource discovery and clearer geological data is improving investor confidence. The Jema’a discovery in Kaduna is a good example of a transparent process with independent verification and public disclosure of inferred resource numbers. 
• Efforts at eliminating illegal mining, which erodes investor confidence, are gaining traction: e.g., in Kaduna, operations have shut down illegal tin-sheds through a mix of community engagement and enforcement. 
  

In combination, these steps show that Nigeria is moving from promise to implementation, making the mining sector a genuinely more attractive proposition for investors who want operating certainty, value-chain opportunities and sustainable environment/community frameworks. 

KMDC hosted a Deal Room at this year’s Nigeria Mining Week. Give us your feedback; what was the experience like for you as the host and for the delegates making use of the facilities. Please describe the atmosphere and if any unique or important deals were clinched at the KMDC Deal Room this year? 

Hosting the first Deal Room this year at Nigeria Mining Week was a rewarding experience for KMDC. As host we had several objectives: (1) create a dedicated space for bilateral meetings between KMDC (and our partners) and investment or project-development interests; (2) present our project pipeline (such as Jema’a, lithium, gold assets) in a structured way; (3) foster networking between local service providers, community representatives, regulatory agencies and global investors. 

The atmosphere was vibrant: the Deal Room was busy with continuous meetings, high-quality traffic of prospective investors from national and international mining service companies, junior explorers and ESG/financing specialists. Delegates appreciated the curated environment, seating, WiFi, private meeting pods, enabling more focused dialogue than the general exhibition floor. 

In terms of deals, while many discussions are still in advanced negotiation or memorandum phase, I can highlight the following: 

• We engaged with a major gold-project developer to evaluate the gold licences we hold in Birnin-Gwari and environs (KMDC portfolio) as potential JV upstream and downstream. 
• Several service-provider companies committed to pilot trials of exploration technologies in Kaduna, leveraging our “Mining Hotspot” interactive map of assets. 
• Overall, the Deal Room accelerated discussions and allowed KMDC to progress from ‘introductions’ to ‘term-sheet drafting’ within the week, a meaningful uplift in efficiency. My message to delegates was: “come to Kaduna not just to hear about potential, but to begin deal-making today.” 
• For future editions we plan to build on this by offering pre-arranged investor briefings, community-engagement panel slots, and follow-up deal-tracking mechanisms so that the conversations at the Deal Room convert into executed partnerships. 

As CEO of KMDC, you delivered a keynote address during the opening session of Nigeria Mining Week. What was your message to the delegates? 

In my keynote address I framed three inter-linked messages: 

• First: “Kaduna is open for business.” I emphasized that Kaduna State has abundant solid minerals (including lithium, gold, tin, copper, wolframite, titanium, iron) and that KMDC has recently expanded its mineral-title portfolio to reflect that abundance. 
• Second: “Value-chain matters.” I stressed that the era of raw-material export only is ending; mining investors must integrate downstream processing, technology, local employment, and community impact if they want to succeed. The lithium-processing plant and multi‐metallic discovery in Jema’a were concrete examples of that. 
• Third: “Sustainability and partnership are non-negotiable.” I made the point that mining is not simply about extraction, but about building healthy, safe communities, protecting environments, securing tenure and monitoring social licence. At KMDC we emphasise ethics, sustainability and inclusion as core values. 
• I called on delegates to see Kaduna not as a frontier with risk, but as a frontier with institutional reform, operational frameworks and opportunities. I invited them to partner with KMDC, to invest not only in minerals but in people, infrastructure and shared value. 
• Finally, I challenged the industry: “Let our legacy not be simply what we mined, but what we built.” 

How was your overall experience of Nigeria Mining Week? How important is this annual gathering of the mining industry? 

• Nigeria Mining Week remains one of the most critical gatherings for Africa’s mining ecosystem. From my perspective this year’s edition delivered in three key ways: 
• It brought together a diverse cross-section — from senior government officials, international investors, junior explorers, service companies, community stakeholders, regulators and financiers — all under one roof. That kind of convening accelerates dialogue and collaboration. 
• For KMDC it provided a timely platform to showcase Kaduna’s assets, host our Deal Room, raise our international visibility and engage directly with global mining value-chain actors. In-person meetings, as opposed to just virtual links, make a crucial difference in our sector. 
• The networking, knowledge-sharing and side-events, are invaluable. Mining is more than rock-and-ore: it is about technology, sustainability, communities and finance. 
• In essence, Nigeria Mining Week is the marquee annual event for stakeholders who want to be active in Africa’s mining future. For KMDC, participation each year is non-negotiable, it helps us stay current with global trends, attract investment, and benchmark our practices. 
• My overall experience was positive: well-organised, high-energy, rich in content, and meaningful in outcomes. I look forward to further building on this momentum in the coming years. 

This year was the tenth edition of Nigeria Mining Week. Your thoughts? 

Congratulations firstly to the organisers for reaching the tenth edition, a significant milestone in itself. Reaching ten years shows maturity, stability and the growing importance of the mining sector in Nigeria and Africa. 

From my view: 

• It reflects that mining in Nigeria has moved from niche conversation into mainstream industrial policy and investment agenda. The fact that major international players now attend and mine-finance forums incorporate Nigeria solid-minerals is evidence of that. 
• It gives the industry a platform for reflection: over ten years we can look back at what has changed (policy reforms, licensing, exploration data, value-chain push) and what remains to be done (local content, processing capacity, artisanal formalisation). KMDC, for example, is proud to be part of this evolution in Kaduna. 
• My belief is that the tenth edition ought not just to be a celebration of past progress, but also a launch-pad for the next decade. I encouraged delegates to view this edition as the threshold for transformative projects: multi-metal deposits, downstream processing, battery minerals, community-led mining. 
• In short: the tenth edition is both a mark of achievement and a call to action — let’s use this momentum to accelerate responsibly. 

Any final words to our audience? 

In closing, I would like to say this: 

To investors and mining companies: Kaduna State and KMDC offer more than just mineral titles, we offer partnership, a regulatory environment that is improving, and value-chain opportunities. Reach out, engage with us, bring your technology, bring your capital, but also bring your commitment to sustainable development. 

To communities and stakeholders: Our vision at KMDC is to ensure that mining is not a disruption but a driver of prosperity, for households, for local economies, for youth employment. We remain committed to doing mining differently. 

To the mining ecosystem as whole: Let us not seek short-term extraction only. Let our ambition be to leave behind industries, skills, infrastructure, and thriving communities. Mining done well changes lives and builds regions. 

Thank you for your interest in Kaduna, thank you for the work you’re doing, and we at KMDC look forward to the deals, partnerships and projects we will build together. 

Together, let us mine for tomorrow, not just today.