PanNigerianNews 
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has boasted that his administration is set to make Nigeria the solar panel and electric vehicles battery manufacturing hub in Africa.
Tinubu also commended the inauguration of Nigeria’s largest Lithium processing plant in Lafia, Nasarawa State, adding that its an indication of the foreign investment friendly environment.
Speaking during a meeting with Nasarawa State governor, Alhaji Abdullahi; Mr Hi Yongwei, Chairman of Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited, and Mr Zhenhua Pei, Chairman, Canmax Technologies.
Avatar, a Chinese firm, built the lithium processing plant which produces about 4,000 metric tonnes daily, while Canmax Technologies is a renowned Chinese firm responsible for over 30 per cent of global battery material production.
Canmax, during the meeting, announced a new investment of 200 million dollars for another lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State.
‘’There are other aspects of lithium that you are exploring in the country, especially in battery production. Nigeria is a huge market for solar panels. Africa is a major consumer of solar technologies.
“I do not see why these panels and batteries cannot be produced here. The labour is cheaper. Our youths are vibrant and skilled. Our people are brilliant and adapt to new technology.
“The economy is increasingly more vibrant, and Nigeria is dependable. We have the consumption capacity and a surplus of steady-handed citizens with gifted minds and an innate drive to work and produce.
Tinubu also called on the firms not to abandon the communities in ruins as they explore the country’s high-grade minerals.
He told the Chinese investors that the administration would assist them to succeed in order to expand further, adding that with collaboration they could dominate solar panel market in Africa and the West African sub-region.
‘’You can always promote the interest of China and Nigeria as the best place in Africa to do business. We are preparing to produce in this country the solar technologies that the entire continent will use,’’ the President said.
‘’The company that we just commissioned today in Nasarawa is a 500-million-dollar turnover company. They are happy, and they have seen enough potential to mine lithium in the region for the next 15 to 20 years,’’ he said.
