A cross-section of residents in KAMA community, Udege Development Area, Nasarawa Local Government, Nasarawa State, have raised concerns over alleged lithium mining spillage affecting farmland, waterways, and the environment in their community.

Lithium, a chemical rich in minerals, is used in marking batteries that power electric vehicles, smartphones, and renewable energy systems, making it economically valuable but potentially hazardous if its extraction is poorly managed.

Residents said during an interview on Thursday that mining spillage had hindered agricultural yield and polluted rivers, raising fears about long-term environmental and health consequences for the community.

They alleged that operations by Avatar New Energy Materials Co. Ltd. produced dust, wastewater, and chemical residues, creating uncertainty about air and water quality, calling on the Federal Government to intervene and limit environmental risks.

Some residents noted that while lithium processing might benefit the national economy, contamination of soil and underground water sources, if unchecked, could pose serious health hazards to the people living near the operations.

Residents urged the company to take measures to safeguard community waterways and the environment, ensuring lithium processing did not compromise the safety of residents or their farmland.

A resident, Mohammed Amadu, said some residents who used to bathe in the community river often felt feverish for up to two weeks after exposure, prompting avoidance of the river.

Another resident, Ibrahim Suleiman, noted that the lithium contamination began in December 2025, and despite appeals to the Nasarawa State Government, there was no intervention to address the pollution or safeguard community health.

A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said vibrations from extraction resembled landslides, while whitish substances from broken lithium ore floated in rivers and tributaries, raising concerns over chemical contamination of water used for daily chores.

Civil society organisation Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, called for government regulation of industrial-scale lithium mining to protect residents’ health and prevent environmental hazards from unmanaged spillage.

CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, warned that lack of oversight on mining activities could have adverse effects on host communities, including water and soil contamination from indiscriminate disposal of lithium waste.

Environmental specialist, Abang Johnson, said that lithium processing must be carefully managed to avoid airborne and wastewater pollution, which could contaminate soil, underground water, and threaten kidney and thyroid health.

Mr Johnson urged government intervention and public awareness to ensure residents know safe practices when living near lithium processing operations and mitigate potential chemical exposure risks.

Responding, PR Manager, Benny Modey of Avatar New Energy Materials, denied the allegations, calling them false and asserting that Environmental Impact Assessments and routine regulatory inspections confirmed full compliance with safety standards.

Mr Modey said claims of pollution or spillage were unfounded, suggesting that some individuals might be spreading propaganda to tarnish the company’s reputation, and urged substantiated evidence from authorities before making such allegations.

(NAN)