Chinese Firms Invest $1.3 Billion in Nigeria’s Lithium Sector as Alake Highlights Mining Reforms
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has announced that Chinese companies have invested over $1.3 billion in the country’s lithium processing sector. Speaking at the 2025 China Mining Conference in Tianjin, themed “Connect and Collaborate, Co-Build and Co-Share,” Alake said the investment marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil dependency.
According to Alake, the companies involved—Canmax Technology, Jiuling Lithium, Avatar New Energy Nigeria Company, and Asba—have played a vital role in boosting Nigeria’s mining value chain since the administration of President Bola Tinubu took office in September 2023. He noted that the influx of Chinese capital has led to increased infrastructure development, technology transfer, and skill acquisition among local engineers and workers through joint ventures between Chinese and Nigerian firms.
The minister emphasized that ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s mining sector are designed to attract more investors and guarantee higher returns. These include improved security measures such as the deployment of Mining Marshals and a satellite monitoring system to combat illegal mining. Additionally, Alake highlighted new digital tools like the Electronic Mining Cadastre (eMC+) and the Nigerian Mineral Resources Decision System (NMRDS), which streamline licensing and improve transparency in mineral data management.
As Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), Alake reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening continental cooperation in mineral exploration and governance. He said Africa must develop shared knowledge systems to fully harness its mineral wealth and ensure sustainable growth. Nigeria, he added, is working to expand Centres of Excellence in Geosciences and Mining Skills and to enhance the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) to support early-stage exploration and de-risk investments.
Alake concluded by inviting global investors and development partners to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s rich deposits of lithium, gold, lead-zinc, barite, and rare earth elements. He assured that the Nigerian government offers a conducive environment for business, complete with improved security of tenure and incentives. “Our vision goes beyond mineral extraction,” Alake said. “We aim to build a globally competitive value chain that supports the clean energy transition, creates jobs, and drives industrial growth through responsible mining.”
source: The sun