Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has overseen the signing of a $2 million supplementary lithium agreement between the state government and Diamond New Energy, following his recent visit to China.
The agreement was signed on Friday at the Nasarawa State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja and is expected to strengthen lithium processing, investment and employment opportunities in the state.
Sule thanked the investors for their continued confidence in Nasarawa and Nigeria, saying the agreement would protect the interests of both the state and the company while ensuring the continued operation of the lithium processing facility.
“We are going to keep your factory functional, and we also have an interest as license owners in whatever you are doing in your company. More importantly, the people you have employed will remain employed.”
The governor said securing the necessary mining licence would ensure the company continued to receive raw materials for its operations while also protecting the state’s interests in the project.
He further urged the company to maintain peaceful relations with host communities and contribute to their development, describing community support as essential to protecting investments.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Margaret Elayo, commended the investors for their commitment to the state and expressed hope that the partnership would attract more investors to Nasarawa.
Officials from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, NASIDA, Diamond New Energy and Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited attended the signing ceremony.
According to NASIDA Managing Director and CEO Ibrahim Abdullahi, the state had entered an exclusive mining cooperation agreement with the company in 2024, which contributed to the completion of what he described as the largest lithium processing refinery in West Africa.
He said the latest agreement would allow continued supply of lithium materials from the state’s mining block to the refinery, creating opportunities for more young people and women in Nasarawa.
The agreement also provides an immediate financial benefit to the state, with $2 million expected to be paid to Nasarawa upon signing, while additional revenues will follow under the agreed terms.
Diamond New Energy representative David Siong reaffirmed the company’s commitment to processing resources locally, creating jobs and supporting economic development in host communities.
“Diamond New Energy always insists on and firmly believes in the further development of resources in Nasarawa, the deep processing of resources, creating employment for the local community, and boosting local economic development.”
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Isaac Danladi, also presented the deed of assignment between Nasarawa Mining Company Limited and Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited.
He explained that the agreement transfers the mining rights and interests of Nasarawa Mining Company within 3.5 mining cadastral units in Endo, Nasarawa Local Government Area, to Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited following a review by the parties involved.
Source: Nasarawa State Government.
