The Federal Government has disclosed that Chinese companies have invested over $1.3 billion in Nigeria’s lithium industry since September 2023, marking a major boost for the country’s solid minerals sector.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, made this known during his presentation at the 2025 China Mining Conference in Tianjin, China, themed “Connect and Collaborate, Co-Build and Co-Share.”
Alake explained that the growing confidence of Chinese investors in Nigeria’s mining sector followed the implementation of new reforms under the current administration, which have improved transparency, security, and ease of doing business.
“Since the beginning of this administration, we have attracted over $1.3 billion in fresh investments into the lithium sub-sector alone,” Alake said. “This is a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to building a globally competitive, responsible, and sustainable mining industry.”
Key Investors
According to the Minister, notable Chinese investors in the Nigerian lithium space include:
Canmax Technologies, Jiuling Lithium, Avatar New Energy Nigeria Limited and Asba International.These firms are developing large-scale lithium processing plants across Nasarawa, Kogi, and other mineral-rich states.
Policy Reforms Driving Investor Confidence
Dr. Alake outlined a series of policy reforms designed to improve efficiency and accountability in the mining industry, including:
- Deployment of Mining Marshals to secure mineral assets and curb illegal mining
- Launch of an advanced satellite monitoring system for mine site surveillance
- Introduction of the Electronic Mining Cadastre (eMC +) platform for transparent licensing; and
- Rollout of the Nigerian Mineral Resources Decision Support System (NMRDS) for data-driven regulation.
He added that these measures were attracting credible investors and repositioning the solid minerals sector as a key pillar of Nigeria’s economic diversification strategy.
Driving the Energy Transition
The Minister noted that lithium’s role in powering batteries for electric vehicles and renewable-energy storage systems presents Nigeria with a strategic opportunity to participate in the global energy-transition value chain.
“Our goal is not just to export raw lithium but to process it locally, add value, and create jobs. Nigeria is open for genuine investors ready to partner with us under a framework of mutual benefit and sustainability,” Alake stated.
Outlook
Industry experts say the surge of Chinese investment could make Nigeria one of Africa’s leading lithium processing hubs within the next few years, provided the government sustains its reform momentum and infrastructure support.
The solid minerals sector currently contributes less than 1% to Nigeria’s GDP, but authorities expect that figure to rise significantly as new mining and processing projects come onstream.
