On Saturday, Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, the former Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), announced that Nasarawa State has become Nigeria”s center for lithium mining and processing, with investments currently totaling $850 million.
During a lecture titled “The Socio-Economic Importance of Lithium Mining and Processing for Nasarawa State Development,” at the 2025 Engineering Week and Dinner/Award Night held by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in Lafia, Prof. Haruna attributed this achievement to the visionary leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule.
He emphasized that the state”s lithium initiative marks “the single biggest leap in the state”s industrial history,” describing Governor Sule as a “visionary engineer, industrialist, and economist” whose foresight has positioned Nasarawa on the global energy stage. The governor”s focus on value addition, local technology development, and private sector partnerships has reshaped the state into a model for resource-based industrialization in Nigeria.
“Nasarawa is no longer just a raw mineral exporter,” Prof. Haruna stated. “With the establishment of lithium processing facilities, the state now exports refined products, generating jobs, wealth, and technical expertise for its citizens.”
He noted that investments from companies such as Ganfeng Lithium Company Limited, Avatar New Energy Materials Co. Ltd, Can Max Technologies Ltd, and Jiu Ling Lithium Mining Company Ltd exceed $850 million, positioning Nasarawa as a continental hub for lithium processing.
“When you combine the commitments from Ganfeng Lithium Company Limited, which is approximately $250 million, Avatar New Energy Materials” multimillion-dollar project, Can Max Technologies” planned $200 million plant, and Jiu Ling Lithium Mining”s investment of over $200 million, the total private capital invested in Nasarawa”s lithium sector surpasses $850 million,” he explained. “This is unprecedented in the history of this state”s industrial development.”
According to him, the lithium sector”s expansion is already having a significant impact on local communities. “The presence of these factories has led to new roads, improved electricity and water supply, and stimulated small business activities in areas like Endo and Gudi,” he remarked.
Prof. Haruna praised Governor Sule”s collaboration with NASENI, which led to the establishment of the Solid Mineral Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (SOMMEDI) in Nasarawa town to foster local technological advancement. “This kind of synergy between governance and engineering innovation is the future,” he added.
He further disclosed that the Nasarawa State Government is poised to receive $15 million over a decade from Ganfeng Mining Company Limited as part of a revenue-sharing agreement, while the Endo community will benefit from $500,000 in local development funds. “Beyond the financial aspects, this partnership signifies a transfer of knowledge and opportunities,” Haruna stated, mentioning that over 100 residents of Nasarawa are currently undergoing lithium refining training in China.
Prof. Haruna elaborated on the diverse applications of lithium, which extend beyond batteries, highlighting its increasing uses in renewable energy, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace technologies. “In the next decade, lithium will be as vital as crude oil once was,” he asserted.
He urged engineers in Nasarawa to support a candidate with technical expertise to succeed Governor Sule in 2027, cautioning that failure to do so could jeopardize the progress achieved thus far.
