By Mercy Adewunmi
A state-of-the-art Lithium processing factory was officially opened in Nasarawa, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presiding over the inauguration. The facility, established by Chinese company Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited, stands as a testament to the fruitful collaboration between the Federal Government, Nasarawa State, and investors.
During the ceremony, which saw the presence of key figures including Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule and Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake, President Tinubu emphasized the transformative impact of the Lithium Company in creating employment opportunities for youth and solidifying Nigeria’s position in the global Lithium market.
President Tinubu reiterated the government’s commitment to diversifying the economy by harnessing the mining sector’s potential to drive revenue growth and foster socio-economic advancement. By urging further investment in complete value chain processing of Lithium and other minerals, Tinubu underscored the importance of supporting projects like the Avatar Company for the advancement of Nigeria’s economic landscape.
“Realising the benefits of Lithium and other mineral resources, our administration will continue to pay particular attention to the maximum utilisation of the product for the benefit of our people.
“While we appreciate this investment in the first phase, processing of Lithium, our goal is for investors to establish factories for the complete value chain processing of Lithium and all other minerals,”
Appreciating the support of the Nasarawa State, President Tinubu commemorated their role in the last Presidential election by officially unveiling the cutting-edge Lithium processing factory. The development heralds a significant leap forward for Nigeria’s technological prowess and participation in the mineral production value chain.
Governor Sule lauded President Tinubu for his instrumental role in attracting such a transformative investment to Nasarawa, while Minister Alake commended Avatar New Energy Materials Company for setting a profitable precedent in the Lithium battery manufacturing sector.
“The feedback from our investment promotion and the increasing number of companies seeking to set up similar Lithium battery factories like this in our country are already multiplying. And this is encouraging us to make a case for strong protection of these Lithium battery companies from foreign competition”.
The establishment of the Lithium processing factory in Nasarawa marks a momentous stride towards economic diversification and solidifying Nigeria’s foothold in the global Lithium market.
