Buying Minerals
from Nigeria
A safe sourcing guide for international buyers — how to find, verify and buy from genuine Nigerian suppliers, and protect your money at every step.
Nigeria is a major new source of minerals. Most buyers either avoid it or overpay for the risk.
Some buyers stay away and miss good suppliers. Others pay a convincing stranger and lose their money. This guide shows a third path: a structured way of buying where every payment is linked to something you can check independently.
Is this company real?
Check registration, licences, the exporter named on the documents, and the bank account before you pay.
Is the grade real?
Write a clear specification, verify assay reports with the lab, and appoint your own inspector at loading.
Are the terms fair?
Understand why sellers ask for advance payment, and use structures that protect both sides.
Is this a scam?
Phantom cargoes, cloned companies, fake certificates and endless fees. Learn the scripts before you meet them.
Nine chapters, from first enquiry to regular supply
Written from the seller’s side of the table by a Nigerian exporter who deals with foreign buyers every week.
Nigeria’s Mineral Supply at a Glance
Key minerals, typical grades, sourcing areas, how supply is organised and realistic monthly volumes.
The Rules Your Supplier Must Follow
The licences a legitimate exporter holds, how to check them, and why payment must go to the exporter’s own bank account.
Finding & Verifying Suppliers
Where genuine suppliers come from, how to deal with brokers, and a five-level verification process.
Specifications, Sampling & Inspection
Writing a clear spec, checking assay reports, representative sampling and independent inspection at loading.
Prices, Incoterms & Payment Terms
How offers are priced, EXW to CIF from Nigeria, and payment structures that balance risk.
Logistics: Getting Cargo Out of Nigeria
Ports, routes, containers, samples, and the documents you should receive.
Scams That Target Foreign Buyers
Six common schemes, the red flags, and what to do if you have been defrauded.
Responsible Sourcing & Compliance
OECD due diligence guidance, the EU conflict minerals regulation, and what to ask your supplier.
Building a Long-Term Supply Relationship
A six-step path from first contact to regular supply, and how to work well with Nigerian partners.
Checklists you can use on your next enquiry
Send the RFQ to a new supplier today, and use the checklists before every payment.
Supplier verification checklist
13 checks to complete before you trust a supplier.
Request for Quotation template
A complete RFQ with every term a seller needs to quote properly.
Documents to demand
What to ask for before each stage of payment.
Inspection instructions
A ready checklist to send to CCIC, SGS or Bureau Veritas.
Red-flag quick card
Eight warning signs and five green flags on one page.
Glossary
Nigerian agencies and trade terms explained.
A compact A5 format, easy to read on any screen
Why Nigerian sellers ask for advance payment
Small and junior producers must pay miners, transporters, royalties and permits before a cargo moves. Advance payment is standard practice in the region, not by itself a sign of fraud. The answer is to link each payment to a verified event.
“If you cannot verify it independently, do not pay for it.”
| Payment structure | How it protects you |
|---|---|
| Pay after inspection at port | Your inspector tests the cargo in Lagos; you pay on acceptance; goods are released to your carrier. |
| Staged T/T | Deposit after full verification; balance against your inspector’s certificate. |
| Letter of Credit at sight | Your bank pays only against compliant documents. |
| Documents against Payment | Title documents released only when you pay. |
Excerpt adapted from Chapter 5, section 5.4.
Written for anyone sourcing minerals from Nigeria
Importers & traders
Building a new supply line from West Africa.
Procurement managers
At smelters, refiners and processing plants.
Investors
Evaluating Nigerian mineral supply and partners.
Agents & brokers
Who want to work professionally with buyers and sellers.
Compliance teams
Checking origin, licences and responsible sourcing.
Kolawole King
Kolawole King is the Chief Executive Officer of Augustina Impex Limited (RC 750691), a solid minerals company headquartered in Jos, Plateau State. The company sources, tests and exports Nigerian minerals to buyers in China, India, Europe, Turkey and the Middle East, through its NEPC-registered export partner, Jase Odus Nigeria Limited.
Every week his team answers the same questions from foreign buyers. Is this supplier real? Can I trust this assay? How do I avoid being scammed? This book answers them honestly.
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- 31-page A5 PDF ebook, 9 chapters
- Buyer’s Toolkit: 6 checklists and templates
- Payment structures that protect both sides
- Regulations checked October 2026
Send your specification to Augustina Impex
We source, test, inspect and export lithium ore, copper, zinc, lead, tin, columbite and tantalite, zircon, rutile, monazite, bastnasite, fluorite and more. Send your specification and we will reply with a written offer. Independent inspection is welcome.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a printed book?
No. It is a digital PDF ebook in A5 format. You can read it on any phone, tablet or computer, and print it if you prefer paper.
How do I receive the ebook after paying?
Selar delivers the PDF immediately after payment and emails the download link to the address you enter at checkout. If anything goes wrong, message us on WhatsApp and we will send it directly.
Which minerals does it cover?
The buying process applies to all Nigerian solid minerals, with examples from lithium, tin, columbite and tantalite, copper, zinc, lead, rare earths, zircon, fluorite and coal.
Is the information up to date?
Regulatory information was checked in October 2026. The book shows you how to confirm current requirements before each deal.
Is this legal or compliance advice?
No. It is an educational guide. Confirm requirements with the relevant authorities and your own legal and compliance advisers.
Can Augustina Impex supply me directly?
Yes. Send your specification on WhatsApp or by email and we will respond with a written offer.