Nigerian lawmaker Clement Jimbo, a member of the House of Representatives, is calling for a new legal framework to boost local value addition and enforce compulsory technology transfer in the country’s solid minerals sector. His focus is on lithium mining and processing, with the aim of avoiding the mistakes made in the oil industry, where reliance on raw‑material exports stifled industrial growth.
In an interview on Channels Television’s breakfast program, Jimbo traced Nigeria’s post‑independence trajectory from an agriculture‑based economy to one dominated by oil. Although oil has been lucrative, it has hindered development in other sectors. Jimbo argues that legislation is needed to ensure companies that import lithium‑powered devices—such as smartphones and electric cars—establish manufacturing plants in Nigeria, using the nation’s raw materials.
The proposed bill would require these firms to set up local manufacturing facilities, thereby attracting the necessary technology and promoting value addition. Jimbo also suggests creating a National Commission on Technology Transfer to oversee the process. Nigeria’s lithium deposits, which contain up to 13 % lithium and rank among the world’s best, could then be fully leveraged for national benefit.
Jimbo clarified that his proposal does not duplicate existing laws; current legislation only licenses individuals to mine raw minerals and contains no provisions for domestic processing. By mandating that companies build processing facilities in Nigeria, the bill seeks to fill this gap and secure long‑term gains that transcend any single administration.
Finally, the lawmaker emphasized the need to empower state governments to play a more active role in the mining sector, a move he believes will drive industrialisation and local growth. Through local value addition and technology transfer, Nigeria can unlock the full potential of its solid minerals sector and avoid repeating past mistakes.
Comments are closed for this story.