The global shift to green technologies has made lithium a key raw material for batteries, and new deposits in Nigeria have attracted growing international attention. China, which is the third largest lithium producer worldwide, has deepened its presence in Nigeria's mining sector under President Bola Tinubu. A NewAfrican report notes that more than 80 percent of lithium-sector mining projects are financed by Chinese investors, who also own the majority of processing and mining companies.
At the 2025 Chinese Mining Conference in Tianjin in October 2025, Nigerian Minister Dele Alake said that since September 2023 Chinese firms such as Canmax Technology, Jiuling Lithium, Avatar New Energy Nigeria Company and Asba have invested more than USD 1.3 billion in lithium processing. Beijing has signalled support: in May 2025 ambassador Yu Dunhai said plans are under way to set up electric vehicle factories, and in April 2025 BYD entered a partnership with CFAO. Local manufacturers such as the Electric Motor Vehicle Company (EMVC) in Abuja and Saglev in Lagos also plan to use lithium.
Mining occurs in Nassarawa, Kogi, Kwara, Ekiti and Cross River states. Although national unemployment fell from 5.3 to 4.3 percent in the second quarter of 2024, many people in mineral areas work in informal artisanal mining that is often unregulated and dangerous. In December 2024 miner Abdullahi Sabiu said he knows his work is illegal but does it to support himself, while trader Aliyu Ibrahim described children working at sites. Connaissances des énergies noted that Chinese companies typically do not hire children directly but can benefit from this dangerous labour chain, prompting activists to call for stronger regulations and international safeguards.
Geology consultant Safinatu Mohamed Sani urged stricter controls and proposed five measures to make mining more sustainable:
- low-impact mining techniques
- reuse of mining waste
- environmentally friendly equipment
- rehabilitation of mining sites
- closure of illegal mining sites
Difficult words
- raw material — natural substance used to make products
- deposit — natural place where a mineral is founddeposits
- processing — series of steps to prepare materials
- invest — to put money into a business or projectinvested
- unregulated — not controlled by official rules or laws
- artisanal — small-scale, traditional production by local workers
- safeguard — measure that protects people or the environmentsafeguards
- rehabilitation — process of returning an area to good condition
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What are the possible benefits and risks of large Chinese investment in Nigeria's lithium sector?
- Which of the five measures proposed by the geology consultant do you think would be most effective locally, and why?
- How might increased local use of lithium by manufacturers affect communities near mining areas?
Related articles
Illegal Well Drilling Worsens Iran's Water Crisis
Iran faces a severe water shortage made worse by unauthorized groundwater drilling by military-linked actors. Official silence has allowed aquifers to fall, forcing village abandonment and producing wider ecological and social damage.
Periphery Groups Send Climate Letter to COP30
Activists from São Paulo peripheries prepared a letter of about 30 proposals to present at COP30 in Belém, November 10–21, 2025. The letter is signed by 50 collectives and 1,000 community leaders and asks for housing, waste and sanitation changes.
Crop losses threaten food security across Africa
Researchers say climate shocks, pests and diseases are increasing crop losses across Africa. Erratic rainfall, flooding and biological threats reduce yields, lower incomes and affect national food supplies and global commodity markets.
