African ministers have applauded the establishment of a lithium processing plant by Asba and Wisdom International Group in Wasa District, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The commendation came during an official tour of the facility on Wednesday, as part of activities for the 2025 African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS).
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Hassan Joho, Kenya’s Minister for Mining, Blue Economy, Shipping, and Maritime Affairs, described the plant as evidence of Nigeria’s commitment to advancing its mineral value chain agenda.
Joho highlighted Africa’s ongoing efforts to add value to its mineral resources to maximise gains, especially in the context of the global energy transition.
“It gives me a lot of pride that I have been able to visit a site that embodies the current continental conversation around creating an ecosystem that supports our extractions,” he said.
“The most critical conversation is that there is a shift from exporting raw ore to producing processed products,” he added.
He said the inspection of the site demonstrated that value addition is achievable through local processing companies.
According to him, Africa’s minerals value chain strategy is reshaping the landscape from raw exports to processing and development at source.
He stressed the need for African nations to take ownership of their development, saying, “We must be able to lead from the front. We must create wealth that remains where the extraction happens.”
Joho added that African governments are determined to back policies that support the continent’s development.
“We shall create support infrastructure, support systems, support frameworks, support legislation, so that wealth remains in the continent,” he said.
He commended Nigeria for the progress made and noted that Kenya is on a similar path, having completed an aerial geophysical survey to map its mineral resources.
Earlier, Olajide Odesola, Deputy Director of Investment, Promotion and Mineral Trade Department, Ministry of Solid Minerals and Development, said one of President Bola Tinubu’s key priorities is to attract investment to Nigeria.
Odesola said the tour was organised to offer ministers a practical view of how Nigeria has drawn investors through its reform-driven policies.
“This is like a practical company for them to see, not what they read on the papers,” he said.
He noted that the government has created structures to facilitate smooth business take-off and growth.
He estimated the plant’s local content at 80 per cent, stating that Nigerians run the operations, while foreign experts are involved solely for technical purposes.
In his remarks, Adamu Husaini, President of Absa Group, said the plant covers over 512 cadastral units with more than 40 tunnels.
He revealed that the company previously exported raw materials to China, but with the Federal Government’s value addition drive, it has transitioned to processing lithium into electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
He said the company, which held its groundbreaking in 2024, will soon begin full operations and export processed products.
(NAN)