President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to commission a new lithium processing plant with a capacity of 6,000 metric tons in Nasarawa State. The project, constructed by Chinese investors, is located in Nasarawa Local Government Area and has been completed ahead of the president’s planned inauguration. Governor Abdullahi Sule disclosed the development on Wednesday after a closed-door meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The president is expected to visit Nasarawa for the commissioning once he returns from a two-week trip to France.
The new facility represents a significant step forward in the state’s role within Nigeria’s growing lithium value chain. It doubles the size of a previous 3,000MT processing plant commissioned in 2023 and highlights rising investor confidence in the quality and commercial potential of Nigeria’s lithium deposits. Lithium, a critical component in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems, has attracted strong interest amid global energy transition efforts.
Governor Sule explained that the new investment came as a result of earlier commitments by investors who were impressed by the quality of lithium in the state. He also noted that Nasarawa has been able to fund more infrastructure projects without resorting to borrowing, citing the federal government’s reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, which have boosted state revenues.
The development aligns with the federal government’s broader push to add value to Nigeria’s mineral sector. Authorities have already announced plans to commission additional lithium processing facilities in 2025, supported by Chinese investors. The Ministry of Solid Minerals has also indicated its intention to restrict raw lithium exports, encouraging local processing in line with successful models seen in countries like Indonesia and Zimbabwe.
Earlier this year, Tinubu declared Nigeria’s ambition to become a regional hub for lithium-ion battery and solar panel manufacturing, building on the country’s mineral wealth and rising demand for clean energy solutions. To protect this emerging industry, the government has also set up a mining police unit to combat illegal mining activities, particularly in the north-central region where artisanal operations are widespread.
