By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
Ahead of the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) 2025 just ended in Abuja, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, led a team of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) comprising sectorial ministers from member states on a tour of the ASBA-Widom Lithium Processing Plant, located in the Wasa District of the Federal Capital Territory.
The Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), co-founded and chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, is a collaborative initiative that welcomes sovereign African nations committed to the sustainable development and responsible management of Africa’s mineral wealth.
Our correspondent who accompanied the team on the tour reports that the foreign dignitaries, including accomplished consultant from Saudi Arabia Ahmed Salaman Albader, expressed satisfaction with the privately owned multi-million-dollar project and the commitment of the Nigerian government to championing the course of adding value to mineral extractions and wealth creation on the continent.
The ASBA-Wisdom is expected to create over 1,200 jobs, while processing lithium ore at the initial stage, before transitioning to the production of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, according to recent reports.
Speaking to journalists at the end of the home tour, Olajide Olusola, Deputy Director, Investment promotion and Rural Trade Department of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, explained that one of the priorities of this administration is to bring foreign investment into the country, hence it has kept encouraging investors like the ASBA Group by providing the enabling environment.
“So as you’re all aware, we’re having a summit this week in Abuja here, for which ministers from around Africa, from Liberia, from Malawi, and African mineral Strategy Group delegation are converging on Abuja to rub minds on the way forward for Africa’s minerals future.
“Part of the programme is to bring them to have the first hand idea how Nigeria has been able to draw investment in recent times, an that is why we are here now,” he added.
According to him, the ASBA-Wisdom Mining venture is 100 percent a private Nigerian company.
“We as a government just provide all the necessary environment for smooth take-off and for business to thrive.
“In terms of using local content, it’s over 80 per cent, especially talking about workers. All the plants are being manned by Nigerians. You know, just the little side of it that we have the foreigners,” he further explained.
The ASBA lithium processing plant, which has a planned capacity of 1.6 million metric tons per annum, is to commence operation before the end of August, 2025, according to Engr Adamu Husseini, the Chief executive director (CEO), ASBA Group of Companies.
Engr Adamu said, “We have not yet started operation, but next month we’re taking off. Production capacity, is about 1.6 million. Actually, before we were exporting. But when Mr President came to power, they now said, no, we can’t continue exporting our raw materials, which are our wealth.
He said, the next step is to start battery production in Nigeria, attributing the success story to the vision and support of the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with thanks.
Speaking, Secretary General of the AMSG Moses Engado (from Uganda) who lead the team said,” I’m happy today that we are in this lithium plant, because for a very long time, we’ve always exported our mineral wealth and imported poverty.
“So since last year, when this organisation was launched under the leadership of Dr Dele Alake as the Chairman, we have been working to move Africa up the value chain, to be able to ensure that we are adding value and producing minerals in such a manner that we can create jobs an increase the wealth that we have on the continent.
“We can only do this when we are able to start processing and manufacturing on the continent so that we can be able to export finished products and contribute to the local economy and to all the countries.
Making reference to the ASBA investment, he said, “As as you can see, this is a shining example that Africa can do it, and together, we can be able to replicate these models Across Africa.
“I’m happy to say that our presidents across the continent, the president of Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and several other countries have banned the export of raw materials.
“This means we want to change the narrative so that our minerals can become a blessing, not a curse. For a long time, we have sat back and seen people take even our soil. The least we can do is clean the minerals. But this is to show us that Nigeria, with your leadership, with coming together, with the private sector that’s being supported by government, we can do better things as a continent.”
“Africa is rising, and this is a clear demonstration, and I would like to congratulate ASBA and Wisdom lithium plant for taking this bold step, but most importantly, the people of Nigeria for supporting this project, because without the support of the communities, the people, you can never move forward.
There is an African proverb that says if you want to go fast, go alone; If you want to go far, you must go together.”
On his part, Minister of Mining, Blue Economy, Shipping and Maritime Affairs in the Republic of Kenya, Hassan Ali Joho, said, “And I must first of all begin by passing our warm appreciation and gratitude for this critical invite, particularly being able to visit a site as important as this one, because in the continent, we are having a different conversation altogether on value chain of our minerals, and it gives me a lot of pride that I’m in Abuja today to visit a site that does exactly as the conversation in the continent today in creating an ecosystem that is supportive of our extractions. So the most critical conversation is that there is a shift from exporting our raw oil into some processed products.