Governor Uba Sani’s administration has launched Nigeria’s first lithium refining plant in Kaduna, a move set to boost industrial activity and environmental sustainability in the state.
Speaking at a ministerial briefing, Environment and Natural Resources Commissioner Alhaji Abubakar Buba praised the governor’s efforts in positioning Kaduna as a major player in the mining sector.
He highlighted the vast mineral deposits across the state and emphasized the government’s renewed focus on legal mining operations and job creation.
To support this push, Kaduna partnered with Core International Marketing and Management Ltd to draft a comprehensive roadmap for mining development.
Buba revealed the state had already secured 18 new exploration titles, with solid returns recorded in the latter half of 2024.
On environmental reform, Buba announced that Kaduna is the first sub-national entity in Nigeria to establish both a climate change policy and a position paper, an unprecedented feat.
To reduce dependence on firewood and mitigate deforestation, over 500 women and young people have been trained to produce eco-friendly briquettes under the ACReSAL project.
The state also partnered with the NGO WISE to distribute clean cookstoves to 400 beneficiaries, helping to cut down smoke-related emissions.
Kaduna’s environmental progress has earned it the title of the cleanest state in Northwestern Nigeria, and officials now aim for national recognition in 2025.
Governor Sani’s inclusion of Kaduna in the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) was also commended as a step toward expanded energy and infrastructure benefits.