Tinubu to Inaugurate 6,000MT Lithium Processing Plant in Nasarawa

Tinubu to Inaugurate 6,000MT Lithium Processing Plant in Nasarawa
..Project signals growing investor confidence in solid minerals sector, says Gov Sule
The Ministry of Solid Minerals also outlined plans to restrict lithium exports

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will visit Nasarawa State to inaugurate a new 6,000-metric-ton lithium processing plant built by Chinese investors, Governor Abdullahi Sule announced on Wednesday.

Eko Hot Blog reports that while speaking with reporters after meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Sule said the facility, located in Nasarawa Local Government Area, is double the size of the 3,000MT plant commissioned in the state last year.

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“The investors promised to build a bigger one. They have just completed it, and it is ready for commissioning. Mr. President assured us that upon his return from his short vacation in France, he will come to Nasarawa to inaugurate the project,” the governor said.

Nasarawa, in north-central Nigeria, has emerged as a key hub in the country’s growing lithium value chain.

The mineral, vital for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems, has attracted strong foreign interest amid the global energy transition.

Sule noted that the success of last year’s project encouraged more investment in the state. “Because of the quality and commercial quantity of lithium discovered, the investors were excited and committed to building something bigger. They have now fulfilled that promise,” he added.

Since 2023, the Federal Government has prioritized value addition in solid minerals, discouraging raw exports in favor of local refining.

In May, authorities announced plans to commission at least two Chinese-backed lithium processing plants in 2025 as part of this beneficiation drive.

The Ministry of Solid Minerals has also outlined plans to restrict lithium exports, drawing inspiration from Indonesia’s nickel and Zimbabwe’s lithium policies, in order to strengthen domestic processing and create jobs.

Governor Sule further linked Nasarawa’s economic and infrastructure growth to Tinubu’s reforms, particularly fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, which he said have boosted state revenues.

“With the significant revenue improvement, instead of borrowing from banks, we are now deploying our enhanced resources to drive development,” Sule said.

Earlier this year, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s ambition to become a regional hub for lithium-ion battery and solar panel production, leveraging rising global demand and the nation’s vast mineral reserves.

To support this vision, the Federal Government has also launched a mining police unit to curb illegal mining, particularly in north-central Nigeria.

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