President Bola Tinubu is expected to inaugurate a brand-new 6,000-metric-ton lithium processing plant built by Chinese investors in Nasarawa State, Gov. Abdullahi Sule said.

Mr ‎Sule disclosed this after a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu on Wednesday at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

The facility, located in Nasarawa Local Government Area, is the second lithium plant in the state and twice the size of the 3,000MT plant inaugurated in 2023.

‎While no specific date was provided, the governor said the visit would happen after the president’s return from his scheduled visit to France.

‎“The Chinese investors have just concluded building the plant and it is ready for commissioning.

‎“Mr president promised that on his return from his short vacation, he’s going to come to Nasarawa to commission the project,” Mr Sule stated.

‎Lithium, a key element in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems, has drawn growing foreign interest amid the global shift to clean energy.

Mr Sule said the new project aligns with his administration’s goal to position Nasarawa as a hub for lithium processing.

‎“Today has to do with the lithium processing plant that we have just finished building by an investor who came from China.

‎“If you remember, last year (2024), we commissioned the 3000 metric tons capacity lithium processing plant in Nasarawa local government.”

‎“And during the period, another set of investors, because of how excited they were with the quality of lithium and the commercial deposit that they noticed, fulfilled their promise to build something bigger.”

‎”Since the twilight of the Buhari years, the federal government said it has been working to attract more value-added investments in critical minerals.”

Mr Sule noted that the latest plant is part of a broader wave of Chinese-backed projects following positive mineral assessments in the state.

‎The governor also credited the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms for enabling infrastructure expansion in the state.

‎“There has been significant revenue improvement. With the huge improvement we have seen, we came with the passion to go ahead and do more.”

‎“Instead of borrowing from the banks, we are now utilising the improved resources that we have.”

‎He added that plans are underway to scale up the state’s agricultural development, leveraging new revenue streams and investor confidence.

(NAN)