Zamfara State Government has taken a major step toward expanding its mining industry with the unveiling of a $200 million lithium mining and processing plant expected to create about 2,000 jobs and strengthen value addition in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
The facility, located in Boko, Zurmi Local Government Area, was inaugurated by Governor Dauda Lawal, who described the investment as a milestone in the state’s industrialisation drive and its efforts to attract responsible investors into the mining industry. The project is a joint venture involving ZAM Mining Company Ltd, Bima Mines Ltd, Jinlide Mining Co. Ltd. and other partners.
Speaking at the event, Lawal said the project represents a shift from exporting raw minerals to processing them locally, adding that the state is committed to creating an enabling environment for sustainable mining, economic diversification and employment generation.
He noted that beyond the direct creation of about 2,000 jobs, the processing plant is expected to stimulate economic activities across host communities through improved infrastructure, business opportunities and skills development.
The governor stressed that the development aligns with the state’s broader vision of transforming its abundant mineral resources into engines of inclusive growth while ensuring transparency, environmental responsibility and community participation in mining activities.
The commissioning comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to develop its critical minerals industry, particularly lithium, amid growing global demand driven by electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technologies. Industry stakeholders have increasingly advocated local processing to maximise economic benefits and reduce dependence on raw mineral exports.
