In a landmark event, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially inaugurated a state-of-the-art lithium processing facility in Nasarawa State, a venture established by the Chinese company Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited.
The ceremony, held at Kama Otto within the Nasarawa Local Government Area, was a collaborative effort with the Nasarawa State Government.
Represented by Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu hailed the launch of Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited as a prime example of successful collaboration among the federal government, the state, and private investors.
The President emphasized that the lithium plant not only opens up new prospects for Nigerian youth but also cements Nigeria’s position as a significant player in the international lithium market.
He linked this development to the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to diversify the nation’s economy by tapping into the mining sector to broaden Nigeria’s revenue streams for socio-economic growth.
“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,” stated President Tinubu.
He urged Nigerians to back his government’s policies and called on both local and global companies to engage with Avatar Company, contributing to Nigeria’s growth and prosperity.
President Tinubu also expressed gratitude for the support from the people of Nasarawa during the presidential elections, stating, “Today, we are here to thank you, not just in words. We are thanking you for a massive project, the commissioning of the state-of-the-art Lithium processing factory, the first in this state and one of the best in Africa.
Highlighting the significance of lithium in modern technology, he added, “What does this mean to our people? Lithium is a critical component in the production of batteries for electric commodities.
“Our people have been using phones, vehicles and other appliances powered by lithium batteries as consumers.
“For the first time in the history of our technology, we are becoming partners and partakers in the production value chain of these minerals. It is a historic leap because we now have opportunities to know how it is done, to own and hone the skills.”
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State acknowledged that such an investment would not have been possible without President Tinubu’s support and the cooperation of local communities.
He also commended the security agencies for transforming the factory’s location from a former hotspot of banditry into a secure area, paving the way for this significant industrial development.
