Stakeholders Call On Nasarawa Gov’t To Sustain Gains In Lithium Exploration, Investments

Stakeholders in Nasarawa State have urged the State government to build on the momentum of lithium exploration and investments in the state, citing the transformative impact of Lideal Mines Limited’s operations in Endo community of the state.

The call was made against the backdrop of the company’s significant contributions to the local economy, including the creation of over 2,000 direct jobs and the stimulation of small and medium-scale enterprises in the area.

Speaking with journalists, Felix Akor, a youth leader in Endo, expressed gratitude to Lideal Mines for bringing employment opportunities to the community, saying: “Before Lideal Mines came, many of our young people had to leave the village in search of jobs in Abuja and other cities. Today, they are back home, working and earning a decent living.”

The lithium project, which is being undertaken by Lideal Mines, is not only generating revenue for the government but also contributing to the country’s economic diversification agenda.

The company is investing in a processing plant that will produce lithium spodumene concentrate, marking a significant shift from raw mineral extraction to value addition.

Community leaders and industry experts are urging the Nasarawa State Government to maintain a stable and predictable policy environment to attract more investments to the sector and guard against undue influence by a cartel trying to dominate the mining industry in the state.

“If we want more companies to come and invest, we must show that agreements are respected. Lideal Mines has done its part; the government must also do its part,” said Fredrick Omakpo, an opinion leader in the Udege axis.

He warned against attempts to derail the project, insisting on respect for agreements and licences. “No mining licence, no mining on our land,” he said.

He, however, praised the NSCDC and mining marshals for protecting sites from land grabbers masquerading as miners, and called on the governor of the state, Engr. A. A. Sule, to continue supporting legitimate investors, ensuring that laws and agreements were respected, saying: “How we treat investors determines if others will come to Nasarawa State.”

Echoing this view, an NSCDC officer attached to the mining marshals said the corps was trying hard to weed out illegal mining activities from the state and uphold the rights of licensed miners.

“In Nasarawa State, what intelligence has shown is that there is a cartel of entrenched interests trying to displace legitimate miners and take over their mines. As a law enforcement body, we cannot allow this to happen. We have to protect miners who have requisite licences to operate.”

Also speaking with our correspondent, the village head of Endo, Chief Audu Adagba, commended Lideal Mines for its corporate social responsibility initiatives, including skills acquisition and training programmes, and infrastructure development. “Lideal Mines has not only brought jobs but also hope. They are working with us to improve our community. This is the kind of partnership we need for sustainable development.”

As Nigeria seeks to position itself in the global energy future, stakeholders believe that the Lideal Mines lithium project offers a model for sustainable development, demonstrating the potential of the solid minerals sector to drive broad-based economic growth.

The success of the project has also highlighted the importance of lithium in the global energy transition, with the mineral being a key component in electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage systems. Nigeria’s lithium reserves present a strategic opportunity for the country to secure its place in the global lithium market.

The Nasarawa State Government has, therefore, been urged to continue fostering an enabling environment for investors, ensuring that the gains made so far by the administration wre sustained and that the state’s economic transformation agenda is driven forward.