By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Federal Government will in May unveil Nigeria’s first and largest Lithium Processing Plant of about 4000 metric tonnes a day in Nasarawa state.
The Nasarawa state Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja on the forthcoming Nasarawa Investment Summit (NIS) 2024 coming up from May 15 to May 16 in Lafia, the state capital.
Sule, who said that he had already met with the Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr. Dele Alake on the commissioning of the Lithium Processing Plant, added that the residents of the state would benefit from its industrial renaissance.
According to him, “In fact yesterday (Monday), I was at the Ministry of Solid Minerals and I met the Honourable Minister Dele Alake and the invitation was for him, to agree on the commissioning of the very first and the largest Lithium processing plant that we are going to have n Nigeria, which is going to 4000 metric tonnes a day which is coming up in May in Nasarawa.
“Industrialisation plays a major role in economic development, creating employment opportunities, and improving the quality of life of citizens. And these are areas of focus as far as we are concerned in Nasarawa state.
“So we have had lots of meetings yesterday with so many potential foreign partners that are coming to be looking at retail investors. We had a Russian delegation. This morning I met with the Japanese Ambassador and some other people.
“So just like the last summit, we are also going to create a Bureau because last time so many deals were carried out and some of them are the ones that we are implementing. So similarly, at this 2024 summit, we are going to create a Bureau where such activity will be carried on.
“And I’m happy that one of the issues of the roundtable is going to be energy, focus and that’s where the GACN comes in handy.
“Apart from the fact that we have the MoU, I’ve always mentioned to whoever is interested in knowing that Nigeria indeed when I work for an oil and gas company in the US, we are always looking at Nigeria as not an oil country, but a gas country that has oil, because Nigeria has far more gas than oil.
“So far, over 200 trillion standard cubic feet of gas reserves in the country. And yet 40 billion barrels of oil. What that means is that Nasarawa is also just coming up. Just for the site talks of it is that one of the reasons why all the drilling aspect has not been completed up till now is because they came across gas too early during the operation in Nasarawa State.”
*Nasarawa residents will enjoy industrial renaissance- Gov Sule
Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State Governor said that the expected outcomes of the summit for 2024 are going to be intense investment opportunities.
Sule said, “And believe me, even without the summit we are beginning to see that. That’s why I’m always running between one meeting and the other. Every time I come to Abuja I will attend at least seven to 10 meetings before I go back to Lafia. And that will strengthen what we started and it has worked for us that is PPP.
“The PPP arrangement has worked so far from the last summit, and we want to continue to do that and then the infrastructural development. I always have an opportunity to express great appreciation to Mr. President because of the policies he came with, we have seen improved revenue for every state of the federation and with that, infrastructural development is springing up everywhere including in Nasarawa.
“We are also going to promote knowledge exchange and capacity building. In Nasarawa, we consider capacity building, especially human capital development key. That is the reason why we came up with the Nasarawa State Human Capital Development Agency where we have a full DG that is taking care of that one and of course the sustainable and inclusive development that we are looking at in totality Nasarawa state
“So I’m pleased and excited about the prospects of the summit for 2024 to usher in the Nasarawa industrial Renaissance. Please, I want you to join us in this remarkable journey.”
He said that a structured strategy of developing a skilled workforce to participate in the various industrial projects has been set in motion.
Sule said that the summit with the theme of the Industrial Renaissance would leverage the immense industrial, agricultural, and mining potential of the state.
The governor said some of the expected outcomes of the summit would be enhanced investment opportunities, strengthened public-private partnership, infrastructure development as well as knowledge exchange and capacity building.
He said that from the 2022 summit, the state had worked out suitable and sustainable partnerships that would stand the test of time.
He added that some of the benefits of the 2022 summit have started manifesting in terms of inaugurated projects and deals.
Mr Ibrahim Abubakar, Managing Director of the Nasarawa State Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA), said that the 2024 summit would build on the gains of the 2022 edition.
Abubakar said that the agency has enjoyed the strong support of the governor in its achievements over the years, adding that the agency would continue to explore such executive encouragement.
He said that stakeholders from the government, development partners as well as national and international investors would be part of the summit.
Mr Muhammed Bello, who represented the Managing Director of the GACN, said the state’s abundant oil and gas reserves were a game changer for the nation.
Bello said that the company would liaise with its parent body, the NNPCL, to bring to fruition the massive investment derivable from the sector in the state.
