Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake, has restated the overarching policy of value addition by any company wth requisite license and permits to mine minerals, just as he made a clarion call to potential investors that the era of exporting raw materials is over.
He made this known yesterday in Lado village, Udede area, Nasarawa State, which is the site of the foundation stone laying ceremony of factory for processing of Lithium battery, established by the Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited.
Continuing, the Minister said ”under my supervision, I will emphasise value addition as a policy of government for the mine sector, urging all stakeholders and potential investors to embrace it, so as to boost the economy to bring foreign exchange.
While acknowledging the significance of the foundation stone laying ceremony for processing a 16,000 tons Lithium battery, Alake noted that it alligns with the cardinal policy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led-administration to create wealth and generate employment opportunities for the teeming youths through value addition to our extractive industry.
To this end, the Minister said: ”I chose to honour the invitation to participate in the foundation stone laying ceremony of the factory because my presence will provide moral support to deliver this project as fast as possible.”
Alake commended the courage and enterprise of the governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, for the actualisation of the successful groundbreaking ceremony.
In his address, the governor poured encomium on the Federal Government for facilitating the establishment of a 13,000-capacity Lithium battery energy plant in Nasarawa.
I am fulfilled, to see the realization of my dream”,Engr. Abdullahi Sule stated.The Company when fully operational, will employment 2,500 indigenes with the additional benefit of capacity building.
