Zamfara expects 2,000 jobs from new lithium processing plant

The Zamfara State Government has projected that its newly established lithium mining and processing plant will create more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs while boosting the state’s mining industry and economic growth.

The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abdurrahman Tumbido, made the projection on Wednesday in Gusau during a capacity-building workshop on developing Nigeria’s lithium value chain for export competitiveness, organised by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

Tumbido described the training as timely, coming shortly after the unveiling of the $200m lithium mining and processing facility in Boko Village, Zurmi Local Government Area.

He said the project was driven by the rising global demand for lithium and is expected to expand employment opportunities, stimulate investment and increase revenue for both the state and federal governments.

According to him, the Zamfara Government remains committed to creating an investment-friendly mining environment anchored on responsible resource development and environmental sustainability.

He said the state would continue collaborating with relevant agencies to ensure mining activities comply with environmental standards, including land rehabilitation, public safety and protection of host communities.

The commissioner also pledged support for artisanal and small-scale miners through training, access to financing, formalisation programmes and integration into mining cooperatives and value chains.

He urged participants to leverage the workshop to develop practical strategies for local mineral processing, quality improvement, certification and export readiness.

Speaking at the event, NEPC Executive Director, Nonye Ayeni, said strengthening Nigeria’s lithium value chain is critical to the country’s economic diversification, industrialisation and export expansion plans.

She noted that Zamfara and other parts of Nigeria possess commercially viable lithium deposits but stressed the need to move beyond exporting raw minerals to processing them into higher-value products.

According to Ayeni, processing lithium into refined chemicals and other derivatives would position Nigeria to benefit from the growing global demand for rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops and energy storage systems.

Experts from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the Bank of Industry and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council facilitated sessions at the workshop, which attracted 63 participants, including miners, mineral marketers and other industry stakeholders.