Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, Nigeria’s lithium processing industry has seen an influx of over $1.3 billion in investments from Chinese enterprises, disclosed Dele Alake, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development.
Segun Tomori, the minister’s spokesperson, shared that this update was delivered at the 2025 China Mining Conference held in Tianjin.
“Since the government’s inauguration in September 2023, Chinese companies such as Canmax Technology, Jiuling Lithium, Avatar New Energy Nigeria Company, and Asba have invested upwards of $1.3 billion in Nigeria’s lithium processing sector,” Minister Alake confirmed.
This significant capital injection is crucial for Nigeria’s strategy to diversify its economy away from oil dependency. It has accelerated the establishment of cutting-edge processing plants, enabled the adoption of innovative technologies, and improved the expertise of Nigerian engineers and technical staff. The minister emphasized that collaborations between Nigerian and Chinese firms are essential for cultivating local talent and enhancing workforce capabilities.
Lithium, a vital element in rechargeable batteries powering electric vehicles and energy storage solutions, is central to the global shift toward sustainable energy. Under President Tinubu’s vision, it has become one of Nigeria’s most promising mineral assets, with mining positioned as a key pillar for economic diversification.
The surging global appetite for this lightweight, silvery metal is opening new mining opportunities in Nigeria’s central and northern territories, where substantial lithium reserves have been discovered and processing facilities are swiftly coming online.
Under the leadership of Minister Alake, who also chairs the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, Nigeria is championing a continent-wide policy to ensure minerals are processed within Africa prior to export. This approach aims to maximize economic benefits throughout the mineral value chain across the continent.
At the Tianjin event, Minister Alake urged investors, development partners, and technical specialists to explore Nigeria’s abundant mineral resources, which include lithium, gold, lead-zinc, barite, and rare earth elements.
He reiterated the government’s dedication to fostering a favorable business climate, safeguarding mining rights, and offering competitive incentives to all stakeholders in the mining sector.
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“Nigeria’s goal extends beyond extraction; it seeks to build a globally competitive mineral value chain that supports the transition to clean energy, creates jobs, and drives industrial growth, all while maintaining responsible mining standards,” the minister explained.
Although mining accounted for less than 0.2% of Nigeria’s GDP from 2018 to 2022, the government is allocating N1 trillion this year to enhance geoscientific research and develop critical mineral processing infrastructure.