Montage Africa Mines and Solid Minerals Limited has achieved a significant milestone in its growth trajectory with the award of an official Exploration Licence by the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO), under the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The licence, granted in accordance with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, further strengthens the company’s position as an emerging force in Africa’s gold and solid minerals sector.
The newly awarded licence (No. 70448 EL) covers a 20 square kilometre area comprising 100 cadastral units located in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State. The exploration title permits the company to target a suite of high-value minerals, notably gold, barite, and tourmaline—all of which are critical to both industrial applications and global commodity markets.
This development represents a strategic expansion of Montage Africa’s exploration portfolio, complementing its ongoing gold mining operations across West and Central Africa, including Liberia and the Central African Republic. With proven operational capacity in alluvial gold mining—highlighted by its deployment of 150-ton-per-hour trommel washing plants—the company is steadily transitioning into a diversified exploration and production entity with multi-mineral capabilities.
Cross River State is widely regarded as an underexplored but highly prospective mineral belt within Nigeria, with geological indicators suggesting the presence of structurally controlled gold mineralization alongside associated pegmatitic minerals such as tourmaline. The inclusion of barite within the licence scope also positions Montage Africa to tap into Nigeria’s growing demand for drilling-grade barite in the oil and gas sector.
Speaking on the development, company Chairman Mr Ogochukwu Ezeaku emphasized that the licence marks a critical step toward unlocking new resource potential within Nigeria while reinforcing Montage Africa’s long-term commitment to responsible mining, local content development, and regional economic growth.
The exploration licence is valid for an initial period of three years, with provisions for renewal, during which the company will undertake systematic geological mapping, pitting, trenching, and drilling programs aimed at delineating economically viable deposits.
As Montage Africa continues to scale its operations across the continent, this latest acquisition underscores its vision of becoming a leading African mining group—leveraging technical expertise, strategic investments, and a deep understanding of the continent’s mineral landscape to deliver sustainable value.
With a growing asset base and an expanding operational footprint, Montage Africa is poised to play a pivotal role in Africa’s evolving gold mining sector while contributing meaningfully to the development of host communities and national economies.