Nasarawa State has emerged as Nigeria’s hub for lithium mining and processing, attracting investments worth $850 million. Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, former Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, attributed this development to the visionary leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule. Haruna made the disclosure during a lecture at the 2025 Engineering Week and Dinner/Award Night of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Lafia Branch.
The governor’s focus on value addition, technology domestication, and private‑sector partnerships has repositioned Nasarawa as a model for resource‑based industrialisation. The establishment of lithium‑processing plants has transformed the state 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 $850 million total investment is already having a significant impact on the state’s economy. The new factories have improved infrastructure—including roads, electricity and water supply—and have spurred small‑business activity in local communities. Under a revenue‑sharing arrangement, the Nasarawa State Government will receive $15 million over ten years from Ganfeng Mining Company Limited, while the Endo community will benefit from $500,000 in local development funds. Moreover, more than 100 Nasarawa citizens are undergoing lithium‑refining training in China, highlighting the transfer of knowledge and opportunity that this partnership brings.
Lithium’s applications extend beyond batteries to renewable energy, ceramics, pharmaceuticals and aerospace technologies. As global 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 industrialisation. 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 evolves, it is essential to ensure that the benefits are equitably distributed and that the state’s natural resources are utilized sustainably.
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