By Ifeoluwa Odunayo
The United Kingdom and the United States have shown keen interest in Nigeria’s lithium resources, following major reforms in the country’s mining industry.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, revealed this in a feature interview for an upcoming State House documentary celebrating President Bola Tinubu’s two years in office.
Alake said Nigeria’s focus on local processing and value addition has drawn global attention.
“The former British Deputy Prime Minister personally invited me to Downing Street to discuss their interest in Nigerian lithium,” he said.
He also noted that officials from the US, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have engaged Nigeria on investment opportunities, especially in critical minerals like lithium.
The Tinubu administration has banned raw mineral exports and tied mining licenses to domestic processing plants.
Two major lithium refineries in Kaduna and Abuja are expected to start operations this year.
According to the minister, these policies have boosted investor confidence and positioned Nigeria as a key player in Africa’s push for fair mineral trade.
