Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has unveiled $200 million lithium mining and processing plant at Boko Village in Zurmi local government area.
He described the project as the beginning of a new era in the state’s drive towards responsible mining, industrial development and economic diversification.
At the event on Saturday afternoon, Governor Lawal said the project represented a significant milestone in the collective effort to harness the state’s abundant mineral resources through responsible investment, value addition, job creation and sustainable development.
The governor noted that his administration was committed to transforming the solid minerals sector from informal and unregulated activities into an organised, transparent and value-driven industry that would directly benefit the people of the state.
He observed that the global demand for lithium and other critical minerals was increasing due to their importance in renewable energy, electric vehicles, modern technology and industrial transformation.
According to him, Zamfara State cannot afford to remain merely a supplier of raw mineral resources but must become an active participant across the entire mining value chain through local processing, value addition, skills development and industrialisation.
The governor lauded the firms handling the project and other development partners for investing in Zamfara, saying that their confidence demonstrated that the state was open to legitimate business and responsible partnerships.
He assured investors that the state government would continue to provide the necessary support through improved collaboration, infrastructure development and policies that encourage sustainable investment.
Lawal emphasised that local communities must be regarded as partners in development through employment opportunities, skills acquisition, community development projects, environmental protection and meaningful corporate social responsibility initiatives.
