The Nasarawa State Government has pledged to continue efforts to harness the state’s lithium resources with the aim of establishing Nigeria’s first electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant.
Governor Abdullahi Sule made the statement at an event organised by the Abdullahi Sule Gidan-Gidan Support Group to mark his six years in office, held on Sunday in Lafia.
Nasarawa’s lithium reserves have attracted considerable attention, especially following the recent commissioning of a lithium processing factory in the state by Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited.
Governor Sule said this development supports the Federal Government’s drive to promote clean energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. He emphasised that his administration is committed to ensuring all mineral resources, including lithium extracted in Nasarawa, are processed locally before export or transfer elsewhere.
He noted that, despite current efforts, only the initial stage of lithium processing is ongoing in the state.
“We will continue to engage investors and strategic partners to advance to the next phase, which involves battery production and vehicle assembly here in Nasarawa. Achieving this is a key goal of my administration,” Sule stated.
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While expressing concern that his tenure might not see the project’s completion, the governor assured that his successor would carry it forward.
Sule also thanked President Bola Tinubu for his impactful economic reforms and pledged to align with these reforms to foster the state’s overall development.
He further committed to using the remaining two years of his administration to improve the welfare of Nasarawa’s citizens.
Earlier in the event, Hajiya Hussaina Sule, chairperson of the support group and the governor’s daughter, said the occasion was to celebrate the governor’s achievements over the past six years.
She praised him for implementing numerous legacy projects across the state, highlighting key initiatives such as flyovers and underpasses in Lafia and Akwanga, the State Secretariat complex in Lafia, and the construction of over 600 kilometres of urban and rural roads, among others.
