By Simeon Omame – Nasarawa
, “The feedback from our investment promotion and the increasing number of companies seeking to set up similar Lithium battery factories like this in our country are already multiplying…..”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has on Friday commissioned a Lithium processing Factory in Nasarawa State by a Chinese firm, Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited.
The factory was built by the Chinese firm,i in collaboration with the state government.
The ceremony took place at a town Kama Otto in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.
Represented by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu commissioned the biggest lithium factory in the country to the admiration of the people.
Dignitaries in attendance include the Nasarawa State governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, Kogi State governor, Usman Ododo and the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, among other notable personalities.
In his address, President Tinubu said the commissioning of the lithium company was an example of a good collaboration between the Federal and State government, together with the Investors. Tinubu said that the setting up of the Lithium Company would create job opportunities for the youth and would also place the country among key players in the production of Lithium globally.
Also, the President acknowledged that the completed project was in line with the federal government’s Renewed Hope agenda of expanding the nation’s economy by taking advantage of the mining sector in order to diversify the country’s revenue base for socio-economic development of the nation.
“Realising the benefits of Lithium and other mineral resources, our administration will continue to pay particular attention to the maximum utilisation of the product for the benefit of our people.
“While we appreciate this investment in the first phase, processing of Lithium, our goal is for investors to establish factories for the complete value chain processing of Lithium and all other minerals,” the President said.
Tinubu appealed to Nigerians to support the policies of his government and urged local and international companies to lend their support by patronizing Avatar Company for the growth and prosperity of the nation.
Also speaking, the governor of Nasarawa state, Engineer Abdullahi Sule acknowledged that it would not have been possible to open the state for investment without the support of the Tinubu-led government and also without the support of the host communities.
Governor Sule thanked the security agencies, noting that the site of the factory used to be a “no go area” due to activities of the bandits and other insecurity challenges.
He acknowledged that, with efforts by the security agents, the location of the Lithium factory is now well secured.
In his own address, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake stated that, the commissioning of the factory built by The Avatar New Energy Materials Company had gone to show that it is not only possible but also productive.
Alake said that, “The feedback from our investment promotion and the increasing number of companies seeking to set up similar Lithium battery factories like this in our country are already multiplying. And this is encouraging us to make a case for strong protection of these Lithium battery companies from foreign competition.”
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