Lafia, Nasarawa State – Governor Abdullahi Sule has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to harnessing Nasarawa’s abundant lithium resources to establish Nigeria’s first electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant.

Speaking in Lafia on Sunday during an event organised by the Abdullahi Sule Gidan-Gidan Support Group to mark his two years in office, the governor noted that the recent launch of a lithium processing facility by Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited in the state aligns with the Federal Government’s push for clean energy and reduced reliance on fossil fuels.

Governor Sule stressed that while lithium processing has begun in the state, only the initial stage is currently being carried out. He expressed his administration’s resolve to ensure that all mineral resources, especially lithium, are processed within Nasarawa before being transported or exported.

“We are determined to ensure full value is added to our resources within the state. Our goal is to become the location of Nigeria’s first electric vehicle manufacturing factory,” the governor said.

Also speaking at the event, Deputy Governor Dr Emmanuel Akabe acknowledged that lithium had long existed in Nasarawa, but credited Governor Sule’s vision for bringing it into national prominence. 

He added that vast lithium deposits have been identified across various Local Government Areas, creating new opportunities for investment.

“The resources have always been here, but this administration’s proactive approach has opened new doors for development and industrialisation,” Akabe stated.

The convener of the event, Hajiya Hussaina Sule — daughter of the governor and Chairperson of the Abdullahi Sule Gidan-Gidan Support Group — said the event was organised to honour the administration’s achievements over the past two years. She highlighted key infrastructure projects, including flyovers and underpasses in Lafia and Akwanga, as well as the new State Secretariat complex in Lafia for government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

She described the projects as "legacy achievements" that are reshaping the state’s development landscape.

The event underscored Nasarawa’s growing role in Nigeria’s energy transition and industrial future, with lithium development at the heart of its economic strategy.