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Reps Urge Creation of Lithium Industry Roadmap
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives wants a comprehensive roadmap to develop Nigeria’s lithium mining infrastructure, as its emphasised the need for clear regulatory and legal frameworks to establish a strong lithium value chain policy, linking mining approvals to investments in downstream and midstream segments.
The House also urged the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to set up the Nigerian Lithium Production Agency, as outlined in Part II, Section 4(P) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007. This agency would oversee the creation of a vertically integrated lithium industry.
Additionally, the House called for increased funding for the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA). This would enable detailed mapping and high-resolution surveys to determine Nigeria’s lithium deposit potential accurately.
These recommendations was sequel to the adoption of a motionton the, “Need to Upscale the Lithium Industry and Value Chain as a Catalyst to Drive Energy Sufficiency and Economic Growth”, by Rep. Victor Obuzor, on Wednesday at plenary.
Rep. Obuzor highlighted that Nigeria possesses vast mineral resources, including lithium, but the mining sector remains underdeveloped. “Mining contributed significantly to the economy in the early 1900s, peaking in the 1950s at about 4–5% of GDP. Today, it contributes less than 0.8%,” he noted.
He explained that lithium, a key component in energy-dense batteries used for clean energy solutions, is essential for global energy transition. “These batteries store more energy per volume, making them ideal for portable devices and grid storage,” he said.
The House observed that while exploration under the National Integrated Mineral Exploration Project (NIMEP) has uncovered significant lithium-bearing minerals in states like Nasarawa, Kogi, Ekiti, and Plateau, there is still no clear estimate of the country’s reserves.
“It is concerning that despite a $700 billion mining potential, lithium exploration in Nigeria is poorly funded. Challenges in project design and implementation have hindered progress,” they added.
The House noted that the price of high-quality lithium carbonate has surged, from $5,180 in 2010 to $46,000 in 2023, making previously overlooked deposits profitable. With global demand expected to rise 13 times by 2040, Nigeria risks repeating past mistakes in the oil and gas sector by focusing solely on upstream operations and neglecting downstream opportunities.
According to the NGSA, some exploratory samples in Nigeria showed up to 13% lithium oxide content—far higher than the global average of 1–2%. However, the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), created to encourage private sector investments in mining, has yet to make significant investments in lithium mining.
The House emphasized the urgent need to harness this potential for economic growth and energy security.
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Protests erupted in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Monday morning over the continued killings of indigenous residents by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militants.
The demonstrations, led by Christian leaders including the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Polycarp Lubo, commenced on Monday morning at the Fawvwei Junction community road, causing a heavy gridlock and stranding commuters.
The latest protest comes amid a surge in violent attacks by gunmen in various communities, with over 100 people killed in Bokkos and Bassa LGAS in the past two weeks.
“We are not happy over the continuous attacks and killings by gunmen in our communities. That’s why we have come out again to protest these happenings,” said Gyang Dalyop, one of the protesters.
Another protester, Hannatu Philip, called on the government to intervene before it spirals out of control.
The protesters brandishing placards with different inscriptions were seen marching towards the Rayfield Government House.
The Presidency has said the former Labour Party, LP, presidential running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed is no match for President Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare was reacting to Datti’s remark that he (Tinubu) would not run for the presidency in 2027.
The former LP running mate insisted that Tinubu’s time is up, adding that everything is there for the president and the ruling All Progressives Party, APC, to see that they lose in 2027.
Dismissing such remark, Dare likened Datti’s comment to the new year predictions of charlatan ‘prophets’ which never come through.
In a statement he signed, Dare said the likes of Peter Obi and Datti would have been president left for the latter’s theories.
According to Dare, Datti has chosen to venture into an unfamiliar terrain.
The statement reads partly: “Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed’s “illogical logic” was all over the place in his recent interview with a television channel.
“Listening to Yusuf Datti Baba- Ahmed spurn his postulations about the political future of Nigeria and that of the incumbent President is like listening to the new year predictions of charlatan ‘prophets’ which never come through. Yusuf Baba Ahmed and his co-traveller Peter Obi are indeed a “double whammy“ in the Nigerian political space.
“He chose to base his political calculations on President Bola Tinubu not winning a second term given his antecedents and because Nigerians will decide at the polls among other things. He conveniently avoided the substance of performance and capacity.
“Unfortunately, he chose to walk into a lane he was unfamiliar with and chose to confront a politician he is no match for.”
Similarly, the Presidency had also stressed that Tinubu will reveal his plans for a second term at the right time.
It said the APC 2027 presidential campaign billboards had no links to Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
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