Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, the former Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency of Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI,has announced that Nasarawa State now boasts of lithium mining and processing.
In his opinion, the present investments in the industry are estimated to be worth 850 million.
In the learning session, a lecture entitled The Socio-Economic Importance of Lithium Mining and Processing to the Nasarawa State Development was delivered by Prof. Haruna during the 2025 Engineering Week and Dinner/Award Night of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Lafia Branch. According to the Prof., the achievement was made possible through the foresight of Governor Abdullahi Sule.
He treated the lithium revolution in the state as the largest jump in the industrial history of the state and also in the status of Governor Sule he said he was a visionary engineer, industrialist and economist; whose foresight has put Nasarawa on the world energy map.
Haruna stated that the focus on value addition, domestication of technology and willingness to form partnership with the private sector by the governor has made Nasarawa the role model in industrialisation of Nigeria with resources.
Nasarawa is no longer an exporter of raw minerals. The state now exports refined products as well as forms jobs, wealth and technical capacity to its citizens since lithium processing plants have been built, he said.
He further stated that investment of over 850 million dollars in other firms like Ganfeng Lithium Company Limited, Avatar New Energy Materials Co. Ltd, Can Max Technologies Ltd and Jiu Ling Lithium Mining Company Ltd would transform the state into an energy processing lithium center in the continent.
The promise of Ganfeng Lithium Company Limited not to mention around 250 million dollars plus, Avatar New Energy Materials with its multimillion-dollar venture, Can Max Technologies with its 200 million dollar plant, and Jiu Ling Lithium Mining with its 200 million dollar investment would amount to over 850 million dollars of a private capital inflow to Nasarawa lithium industry alone, as Prof. Haruna said.
That is something that has never been experienced ever even in the history of the development of this state industry, he added.
Lithium boom according to him already is changing societies. He said that the availability of these factories has brought in new roads, have enhanced electricity and water supply, and small business start-up in communities such as Endo and Gudi.
Haruna also praised Governor Sule in cooperation with NASENI that developed the Solid Mineral Machinery and Equipment Development Institute, in Nasarawa town as a way of helping local technology. Due to his observation, he noted that this form of synergy between governance and engineering innovation is the future.
He announced that Ganfeng Mining Company Limited will pay a sum of $15 million to Nasarawa State Government as a revenue sharing alliance in a period of ten years and that the local community of Endo will receive funds amounting to half a million in development funding.
