President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Friday, inaugurated a Lithium processing factory, built by a Chinese firm, Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited, in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Government.
The President was represented by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
The commissioning ceremony, held in Kama Otto, Nasarawa Local Government Area, was attended by various dignitaries including the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, his Kogi State counterpart, Governor Usman Ododo, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, federal lawmakers, former state leaders, and traditional rulers.
In his speech, Tinubu highlighted the importance of the Lithium Company in fostering partnerships between the Federal Government, States, and investors.
He emphasized that the establishment of the Lithium Company would create opportunities for youth employment and position Nigeria as a key player in the global Lithium market.
Tinubu reiterated the government’s commitment to diversifying the economy through the mining sector to enhance revenue generation and socio-economic development.
He called for support for his administration’s policies and encouraged local and international companies to patronize Avatar Company for Nigeria’s growth and prosperity.
Tinubu also expressed gratitude to the people of Nasarawa for their support during the last Presidential election.
 “Today, we are here to thank you, not just in words. We are thanking you with 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.
“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.”
Governor Abdullahi Sule acknowledged the pivotal role of President Tinubu and local communities in attracting such investments to the state.
He also commended the security agencies for securing the area, which was previously plagued by banditry activities.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, praised Avatar New Energy Materials Company for demonstrating the feasibility and profitability of the Lithium battery factory.
He highlighted the increasing interest from other companies to set up similar factories in Nigeria and advocated for strong protection of these companies from foreign competition.
