The Kaduna State Government has established Nigeria’s first-ever lithium processing plant in Kangimi village, along the Kaduna-Jos road, marking a new chapter for the state’s solid minerals sector.
Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Alhaji Abubakar Buba, made this known during the ongoing quarterly ministerial press briefing in Kaduna. According to him, the plant has the capacity to produce more than 30,000 tonnes of lithium daily, positioning the state as a major player in the nation’s mining landscape.
“His Excellency, Governor Uba Sani has established a Lithium processing plant at Kangimi village along the Kaduna-Jos road, the first of its kind in Nigeria. This processing plant has a capacity of producing more than 30,000 tonnes of lithium per day,” Buba announced.
He described Kaduna as the solid mineral hub of Nigeria, with over 70 identified mineral resources, including lithium, gold, tin, coltan, wolframite, titanium, and iron.
To further boost mining operations, the Kaduna Mining Development Company has secured 18 new mineral titles. The commissioner noted that this is part of Governor Sani’s drive to reposition the sector, increase internally generated revenue, attract investors, and eliminate illegal mining activities.
“Out of the Governor’s magnanimity, he graciously agreed that we should form cooperative societies of these illegal miners, so that at the end of the day, they will still be useful to the society. They will serve as the foot soldiers for any investor that is coming, because they are the indigenes and they know the terrain better than each and every one of us,” Buba stated.
As part of strategic planning, the state government has engaged Core International Marketing and Management Ltd to develop a comprehensive Mining Development Roadmap. So far, Kaduna has generated N30 million from mining in the last two quarters of 2024, with expectations for increased revenue in 2025.
Beyond mineral development, the state is also making strides in environmental management. The commissioner disclosed that Kaduna is the first sub-national in Nigeria to develop both a State Policy on Climate Change and a Position Statement.
“A lot of states have done the policy document, but Kaduna State is the first to come out with the two,” he said.
In line with its environmental goals, the state has trained and empowered 500 women and youths on briquette making, in collaboration with the Kaduna Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project. This initiative aims to provide an alternative to firewood and charcoal use, which contribute to deforestation and environmental degradation.
“In this part of the world, our people normally use firewood as a source of energy for cooking. We thought that before we ban the use of firewood for cooking and charcoal making, we need to provide an alternative to the people.
That’s the reason why the state government, in collaboration with ACReSAL, we trained over 500 women and youths on how to make briquettes**,” Buba explained.
He further noted, “Briquettes can serve as a source of energy to our women and children for cooking without necessarily burning down our trees, because the trees serve as carbon shield for humanity.”
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Also, in partnership with the Women’s Initiative on Sustainable Environment (WISE), the government has distributed clean cooking stoves to 400 women and youths to reduce smoke emissions and protect the ozone layer.
“This will help in reducing the emission of smoke that goes to the atmosphere, which equally distorts the ozone layer and exposes humanity to more risk,” Buba emphasized.
The commissioner lauded Governor Uba Sani’s proactive efforts, which have led to Kaduna’s inclusion into the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC).
He recalled, “Last year, Kaduna State was rated as the cleanest city in north-western Nigeria. This is one of the achievements that we hope to sustain. This year, we hope to be the cleanest state in Nigeria – that is our target.”
