Nasarawa State Government has assured a Chinese Lithium Processing Company currently setting up a Lithium Processing Plant of its commitment to extend all the necessary support the company would require to successfully install another large lithium processing plant in Nasarawa Local Government area of the state.

Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule gave the assurance Tuesday February 4th, 2025 in Endo community on an inspection visit to assess the progress of work on Jiuling new Lithium Processing Plant which is being set up en route Abuja after his visit to Udege Umbeki, Odu and Mararaba Udege town in his administration’s attempt to pacify Afo nation and allay their fears.

The Governor assured Jiuling Lithium Processing Company of his administration’s commitment to provide the company all the necessary and strategic support needed in the area of; security and several other basic infrastructures that would enhance the success of the project.

” First and foremost the essence of the visit is to come and inspect the amount of work and the progress of work that a company call Jiuling which is one of the three biggest Chinese Lithium Mining Companies have decided that they are investing in Nasarawa State …

” So Jiuling is a very big company in place called Yuchun which is in Xiansen province which I had the opportunity of visiting them the last time I was in China about two weeks ago. And during the visit, they made a commitment to me that they have taken me to a factory that produces three million tonnes of lithium and they said apart from that factory; they were going to build a factory bigger than that in Nasarawa State …

” So, I became very excited when they said so and I decided that I will come and see it. From what they have already started mining in Nasarawa, they have realized that they can actually build something bigger than what we saw in China and that is exactly what I have come to see ” The Governor explained in an interview after being conducted round the emerging facility.

Engineer Sule pointed out that from what he had seen, it appears Jiuling really meant what they said they would do in Nasarawa State as the visit afforded him the opportunity to inspect the lithium processing plant installation ground work and pillars as well as the company’s contractor Sinoma excavation and exploitation site situated within the same vicinity.

With regards to the benefits of having the lithium processing plant in Nasarawa, the Governor explained that the company has assured him that they would employ all qualified technical people and pay them five hundred thousand minimum wage which he had confirmed during the visit.

The Governor stressed that most of the engineers and the technical people he had seen there are either from Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi and Plateau states whom he urge to demonstrate high level of professionalism and resourcefulness as they go about doing their work.

” While I am very happy and excited that they are people from here, I would like our people to actually seize the opportunity of studying courses that will give them the opportunities to work in places like this. Because if they have people from Nasarawa state they engage people from Nasarawa state first but if they don’t; they will not abandoned their company. They will go elsewhere to get the needed experts ” He stated.

On whether he is satisfied with the way the company has been carrying out it’s exploitation work haven seen the excavation site, the Governor noted that he is satisfied as the company is working in line with the environmental impact analysis report which contains issues concerning land degradation and reformation.

On the relationship existing between Jiuling Lithium, Sinoma and Gangfeng Lithium companies who are visibly seen working together during the inspection visit to site. The Governor explains as follows: 

” Jiuling is a very big company. A huge lithium processing company – so it is the godfather here. However, there is a much smaller company here that started the business here and actually went into a relationship with a firm called Gangfeng which is owned by Mr. Chen who started the business and it became so big for him so he now brought in Jiuling. So Jiuling owns the project. Then Sinoma is only a contractor. Like I told you earlier l, Sinoma was our contractor when I was in Dangote that build the Obajana that you know today ” The Governor narrated.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Gangfeng Lithium Processing Company Mr. Xiong Jin assured the Governor the commitment of their company to employ the major technical staff from the people of the state and as well ensure their welfare is adequately taken care of in entrenching industrial harmony.

He said to ward off completely tendencies for panic due to fluctuating security challenges in the area, the company needs the support of the state government in that regards through a robust joint security measures for a strong and viable surveillance within the area to secure their investment.

Mr. Xiong Jin equally appreciated the Governor for his efforts in providing atmosphere that is conducive for investment in the state.