The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has disclosed that Chinese companies have invested more than $1.3 billion in Nigeria’s lithium processing sector since the administration of President Bola Tinubu took office.
In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, Alake made the revelation at the 2025 China Mining Conference in Tianjin, themed “Connect and Collaborate, Co-Build and Co-Share.” He commended the growing involvement of Chinese investors in Nigeria’s solid minerals industry, describing their contributions as a major boost to the country’s economic diversification efforts.
According to him, companies such as Canmax Technology, Jiuling Lithium, Avatar New Energy Nigeria Company, and Asba have committed significant capital to establishing lithium processing facilities across Nigeria since September 2023. These investments, he said, have strengthened local capacity, attracted new infrastructure, facilitated technology transfer, and created opportunities for Nigerian engineers and workers through joint ventures.
Alake explained that the government’s reforms in the mining sector have improved the ease of doing business and provided a more secure environment for investors. He cited the establishment of Mining Marshals and the deployment of a satellite monitoring system to curb illegal mining and protect licensed operators as part of ongoing structural and security improvements.
He added that the ministry has introduced digital innovations such as the Electronic Mining Cadastre (eMC+) and the Nigerian Mineral Resources Decision System (NMRDS) to promote transparency, improve licensing procedures, and facilitate remote transactions
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As Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), Alake reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening regional collaboration in mineral governance, reporting standards, and knowledge sharing. He announced plans to upgrade Africa’s Centres of Excellence in Geosciences and Mining Skills and expand the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) to support early-stage exploration and reduce investment risks.
Alake also emphasised Nigeria’s focus on responsible mining practices aligned with global clean energy goals. He called on investors and development partners to seize the opportunities created by Nigeria’s new mining policies, stressing that the government aims not only to extract minerals but to develop a complete value chain that supports job creation, industrial growth, and a sustainable energy transition.
Recent data shows that Nigeria’s solid minerals sector generated over N38 billion in 2024, a sharp rise from N6 billion the previous year, driven by the government’s policy mandating local mineral processing before export. Several major lithium projects are nearing completion, including a $600 million processing plant near the Kaduna-Niger border and a $200 million refinery outside Abuja. Two additional plants in Nasarawa are expected to be commissioned before the third quarter of 2025
The Federal Government has also earmarked N1 trillion for mineral exploration this year to produce globally certified geological data capable of attracting more investors. In May 2024, it revoked 924 inactive mining licences and announced plans to cancel an additional 1,000 dormant permits to sanitise the licensing system and reposition the mining industry for industrial expansion.
