Abuja, Feb. 12, 2024: A mining expert, Mrs Janet Adeyemi, has urged government to establish laboratories across the six geo-political zones to enhance Lithium development.
She said it was crucial to achieving high purity standards, as well as up-scaling exploration and processing of the mineral deposits.
Adeyemi said this on Sunday in Abuja: “Each geo-political zone at least, should have a very standard reference lab, then private sectors can equally come with their own laboratories, I think it will help, a lot” she said.
Lithium, one of the critical mineral deposits in Nigeria, is currently mined in Nassarawa, Kogi, Kwara, Ekiti and Cross River.
The global upsurge in energy transition requires a shift from traditional fossil fuels and dependency on oil hydro carbons to green energy.
Lithium is a critical mineral for the success of this transition and an essential component for the manufacturing of rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles, electronics, and grid energy storage.
Adeyemi, who is also the founder of Women in Mining (WIM), said that the laboratories would enable the government to establish the quality of mineral resources exiting the country to boost its economic profile.
According to her, the establishment of efficient energy corridors for mining operations can enhance its overall productivity and profitability while minimising environmental impacts and logistical challenges.
“We should also create energy corridors or what we call infrastructure development corridors, where some of these processing can take place, so that it will reduce overhead on building anything .
“Like the Nassarawa and Kogi axis is a very rich belt, I believe that can be a corridor for the development of all these things and before we know it, the kind of results we need should be there,” she said. “
The WIM president called for the training of Nigerians for a successful energy transition, adding that multi sectoral collaboration should be developed for a constructive collegiate mechanism .
According to Adeyemi, the aim is to drive development in the sector and discourage working in silence , a scenario where information is usually difficult to access.
“What one ministry is doing, another will not know, but when you throw it open, it becomes a challenge, becomes a source of inspiration for the next generation, so everybody has a stake.
“ Diasporans will be interested in putting out their money, but when something is shoddy and you don’t understand what is happening ,you will not want to put your money,” she said.
She commended the Nasarawa Government for the ongoing construction of a world-class lithium factory in the state, and urged the Federal Government to maximise the benefits of its mineral resources, particularly in developing its local economy.
“Government have already come up with a policy that we cannot export raw materials, it has to be processed.
” Because most times our people are exploited, people will tell you that the grade of the lithium is not the standard grade they want and they cheat them out, ” she said.
