Nasarawa State has emerged as Nigeria’s hub for lithium mining and processing, with current investments valued at $850 million. According to Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, former Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, this development is attributed to the visionary leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule. Haruna made this disclosure during a lecture at the 2025 Engineering Week and Dinner/Award Night of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Lafia Branch.
The state’s lithium revolution is touted as the single biggest leap in its industrial history, with Governor Sule’s emphasis on value addition, technology domestication, and private-sector partnerships repositioning Nasarawa as a model for resource-based industrialization. Haruna noted that the establishment of lithium processing plants has transformed Nasarawa from a raw mineral exporter to a refined product exporter, creating jobs, wealth, and technical capacity for its people.
Investments from firms such as Ganfeng Lithium Company Limited, Avatar New Energy Materials Co. Ltd, Can Max Technologies Ltd, and Jiu Ling Lithium Mining Company Ltd are expected to make Nasarawa a continental hub for lithium processing. The total investment of over $850 million will have a significant impact on the state’s economy. The presence of these factories has already improved infrastructure, including roads, electricity, and water supply, and spurred small business activities in local communities.
The Nasarawa State Government is set to receive $15 million over ten years from Ganfeng Mining Company Limited as part of its revenue-sharing arrangement, while the Endo community will benefit from $500,000 in local development funds. Furthermore, over 100 Nasarawa citizens are undergoing lithium refining training in China, highlighting the transfer of knowledge and opportunity that this partnership brings.
Lithium has various applications beyond batteries, including renewable energy, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace technologies. As the demand for lithium continues to grow, Nasarawa State is well-positioned to become a key player in the industry. Haruna emphasized the importance of continuity in leadership to sustain the gains of the lithium revolution, urging engineers to support a technically competent successor to Governor Sule in 2027.
The development of Nasarawa’s lithium sector has significant implications for the state’s economic growth and industrialization. With the support of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and other stakeholders, the state is poised to become a major hub for lithium mining and processing in Africa. As the industry continues to evolve, it is essential to ensure that the benefits of this development are equitably distributed and that the state’s natural resources are utilized sustainably.