Nasarawa State is set to welcome President Bola Tinubu to commission a brand-new 6,000-metric-ton lithium processing plant, highlighting Nigeria’s bid to capture more value in the global energy transition.
Governor Abdullahi Sule confirmed the President’s forthcoming visit after meeting him on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja. Built by Chinese investors, the plant is the second of its kind in Nasarawa Local Government Area and is twice the size of the 3,000MT facility commissioned in 2023.
Lithium, essential for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage systems, has become a magnet for investment as nations race toward clean energy. Nigeria, with commercially viable deposits confirmed in Nasarawa and other states, is seeking to shift from raw mineral exports to domestic processing.
“This new plant shows what can happen when investors see quality minerals and a stable business climate,” Sule said, adding that the latest investment was part of a wave of Chinese-backed projects since mineral surveys revealed high-grade deposits.
He also linked the expansion to Tinubu’s economic reforms, which he said had strengthened state revenues. “Instead of borrowing from the banks, we are now utilising the improved resources that we have,” Sule noted.
The governor added that the revenue boost would also be channelled into agriculture, further diversifying the state’s economy.
Analysts say the project could position Nigeria as a regional hub for lithium refining if backed by consistent regulation and local value-chain development. It also reflects a broader federal push, dating back to the Buhari era, to attract value-added investment into critical minerals as part of Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.
