16th May 2024
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday harped on the need for states rich in lithium across the federation to consider investing in the mining sector to enjoy its numerous benefits.
Speaking in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, at the opening of the 2-day Nasarawa Investment Summit, 2024 tagged “The Industrial Renaissance,” the President, while urging the state governors to take full advantage of the global demand for lithium to boost the economies of their respective states, described lithium as “the future.”
Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, commended the Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, for the numerous investors he had attracted to the state through the mining sector since he was first elected into office in the year 2019.
He said, “Last week, Nasarawa State celebrated a significant milestone in the mining sector with the launch of 4,000 tones per day processing plants, which is a testament to its love for investments. I, therefore, urge other states to emulate Nasarawa as an example by intensifying efforts to attract investors.
“Initiatives like this investment summit are pivotal in showcasing the vast opportunities awaiting investors across all sectors of the Nigerian economy. Nasarawa State has shown great vision in ensuring that its vast mineral deposits are developed and processed by ensuring that raw materials are not exported out of the country.
“Lithium is the future. Manufacturers have continued to produce cars powered by lithium batteries. Therefore, as a country, we must prepare for this by ensuring to take full advantage of the global demand for lithium by developing even more processing plants in Nasarawa and across other states rich in lithium in Nigeria as a whole.”
Tinubu further promised Federal Government’s commitment to give maximum support for the sustainable development of the mining sector to attract more investors to boost the nation’s economy.
In his speech, Governor Abdullahi Sule explained that the state had deliberately stimulated its economy, built human capacities, created wealth and generated employment for residents.
He narrated that these deliberate moves were why the state government adopted the “Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy” as a driving force towards the initiation and implementation of various programmes and policies it had achieved so far.
“I must acknowledge our most cherished investors and other development partners, who are here to be part of this auspicious occasion. I do not doubt that the coming together of these distinguished and eminent personalities will offer us the opportunities to continue to map the future of our state’s economic landscape in our relentless commitment to explore business opportunities and forge investment partnerships across business endeavours.
“Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is pertinent to remind you that Nasarawa State organised the first edition of the Nasarawa Investment Summit in 2022 under the theme “Diamond in the Rough: The Making of a New Investment Frontier”, aimed at ushering investments and showcasing our mineral resources to potential investors.
“I am happy to state that the outcome of the summit informed the influx of investors into the state who are variously harnessing our God-given endowment. To ensure full utilisation of our potential, we have pledged to sustain the investment summit to further showcase other solid mineral resources which are yet to be identified by interested investors,” the governor added.
The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, top government functionaries both at the federal and state levels, foreign and local investors, business tycoons, and traditional and religious leaders, among others, graced the occasion.
