Nigeria has approved plans for Chinese electric vehicle (EV) factories in a bid to accelerate industrialisation and promote local value addition in its mineral sector, officials said on Monday.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake said the decision aligns with Nigeria’s strategy to transform from a raw material exporter to a manufacturing hub, particularly in the fast-growing electric mobility sector.
Speaking during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Yu Dunhai, Alake emphasized the government’s shift toward “full-cycle investment,” urging foreign partners to engage in local processing and production.
“We now prioritise local processing to drive Nigeria’s development. With our abundant lithium resources, we expect to see the manufacturing of electric vehicles and batteries here in Nigeria,” the minister said.
The move is part of a broader push to leverage Nigeria’s vast mineral reserves—including lithium, a critical component in EV batteries—to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and create jobs through downstream industrial activities.
Chinese companies are among the most active investors in Nigeria’s mining and manufacturing sectors, and the new approvals could pave the way for joint ventures and technology transfer in EV assembly and battery production.
While details of the investment agreements were not disclosed, officials said the initiative will contribute to Nigeria’s clean energy transition and enhance its role in the global EV supply chain.
