Esther Salifu
In a significant move to enhance Nigeria’s industrial sector, China has announced plans to establish electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plants in the country.
This initiative aims to leverage Nigeria’s abundant mineral resources, particularly lithium, and aligns with the nation’s push for local value addition in its mining industry.
During a recent meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, emphasized the importance of deepening collaboration between the two nations. He highlighted the potential for Nigeria to become a hub for EV production in Africa, citing the country’s rich deposits of critical minerals essential for battery manufacturing.
Ambassador Dunhai stated “Plans are underway to establish electric vehicle factories and other manufacturing ventures in Nigeria,”
“Chinese companies are already deeply involved in Nigeria’s mining sector, from exploration to processing.”
Minister Alake reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to transitioning from raw mineral exports to local processing and manufacturing. He stressed that future mining licenses would be contingent upon investors’ plans for local value addition.
“For years, our minerals have been exported raw to fuel foreign industrialization. That must change,”
“We now prioritize local processing to drive Nigeria’s development. With the abundance of lithium, we want to see local manufacturing of electric vehicles and batteries”, Alake asserted.
The collaboration aligns with the broader strategic partnership between Nigeria and China, which was recently elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). This partnership encompasses various sectors, including infrastructure, digital economy, and green development.
Ambassador Dunhai also addressed concerns about illegal mining activities, assuring that the Chinese government has zero tolerance for such practices and is committed to working with Nigerian authorities to enforce compliance.
