Assessment of Technology Adoption Barriers in Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Processing Industry

Nigeria's solid minerals processing industry remains characterised by outdated technology and low value addition, limiting competitiveness and earnings from the country's substantial mineral endowment. This study assesses the barriers to technology adoption in the solid minerals processing sector, drawing on evidence from operations across the North Central and South East geopolitical zones. A mixed-methods study design was applied, combining a technology audit of 20 processing plants with structured interviews with plant managers, technical personnel, and equipment suppliers. Technology adoption barriers were categorised using a modified diffusion of innovation framework adapted for the Nigerian industrial context. Findings identify capital access constraints as the primary barrier, reported by 85 percent of plant managers as inhibiting investment in modern processing equipment. Other significant barriers include inadequate local technical expertise for equipment operation and maintenance, unreliable electricity supply that discourages energy-intensive processing technology, and limited awareness of alternative equipment options available at appropriate cost points. Nigerian-manufactured processing equipment, which could reduce costs substantially, is used in fewer than 12 percent of operations due to quality perception issues. The study recommends a technology upgrade fund within the Bank of Industry mining sector portfolio, tax incentives for domestically manufactured mineral processing equipment, and a technology demonstration programme hosted by federal research institutions. Keywords: technology adoption, mineral processing, solid minerals, Nigeria, barriers.