Nasarawa State has become Nigeria”s leading center for lithium mining and processing, with investments reaching $850 million, according to Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, former Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI). He shared these insights during a lecture on the socio-economic impact of lithium mining at the 2025 Engineering Week and Dinner/Award Night of the Nigerian Society of Engineers in Lafia.
Haruna credited the transformation of Nasarawa”s industrial landscape to the visionary leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule, describing the lithium initiative as “the single biggest leap in the state”s industrial history.” He praised Governor Sule as a “visionary engineer, industrialist, and economist” whose innovative approach has placed Nasarawa on the global energy map.
The professor emphasized that the state is no longer merely exporting raw minerals; it has established lithium processing plants that allow it to export refined products. This shift is generating jobs, wealth, and enhancing the technical skills of the local population. Haruna noted the significant contributions from various companies, including Ganfeng Lithium Company Limited, Avatar New Energy Materials Co. Ltd, Can Max Technologies Ltd, and Jiu Ling Lithium Mining Company Ltd, which collectively represent investments exceeding $850 million.
“The combined commitments from these firms—approximately $250 million from Ganfeng Lithium, Avatar”s multimillion-dollar project, Can Max”s planned $200 million plant, and Jiu Ling”s investment of over $200 million—illustrate a historic influx of capital into Nasarawa”s lithium sector,” Haruna stated. “This is unprecedented in the state”s industrial development.” He added that the ongoing lithium boom is significantly improving local infrastructure, including new roads and enhanced electricity and water supply, while also stimulating small business activities in communities such as Endo and Gudi.
Haruna further acknowledged the collaboration between the Nasarawa State Government and NASENI, which led to the establishment of the Solid Mineral Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (SOMMEDI) in Nasarawa town to promote local technology. “This kind of synergy between governance and engineering innovation is essential for the future,” he remarked.
Additionally, the Nasarawa State Government is poised to receive $15 million over a ten-year period from Ganfeng Mining as part of a revenue-sharing agreement, while the Endo community is set to benefit from $500,000 in local development funds. “This partnership goes beyond financial support; it entails a transfer of knowledge and opportunities,” Haruna explained, highlighting that over 100 residents are currently training in lithium refining in China.
He also pointed out that lithium”s uses extend beyond batteries, with increasing applications in renewable energy, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace technologies. “In the next decade, lithium will be as strategically important as crude oil once was,” he asserted. Haruna urged engineers in Nasarawa State to support a candidate with a technical background to succeed Governor Sule in 2027, warning that choosing someone without such expertise could jeopardize the progress achieved.
