Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has presided over the signing of a $2 million supplementary lithium agreement between the state government and Diamond New Energy, following his recent visit to China.   The agreement was signed at the Nasarawa State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja on Friday, August 14, 2026. Sule said the deal would help keep the company’s lithium processing factory operational while protecting jobs created by the investment. > “We are going to keep your factory functional, and we also have an interest as license owners in whatever you are doing in your company. More importantly, the people you have employed will remain employed,” the governor said. According to Channels Television, the governor said the state moved quickly to secure the relevant mining licence to ensure continued access to raw materials and prevent another party from obtaining the licence. The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Margaret Elayo, expressed appreciation to the investors and said the partnership could encourage further investment in Nasarawa. The signing was witnessed by officials from the state Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), Diamond New Energy and Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited. Sule also urged the company to maintain peaceful relations with host communities and contribute to their development. He disclosed that payments due to the state under the agreement would be made in foreign currency directly to Nasarawa Mining Company Limited, with the terms subject to periodic review. Agreement builds on 2024 mining deal NASIDA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ibrahim Abdullahi said the state government had signed an exclusive mining cooperation agreement with the company in 2024. He said the partnership had contributed to the completion of what he described as the largest lithium processing refinery in West Africa. The supplementary agreement allows the continued supply of lithium materials from the state government’s mining block to serve as feedstock for the refinery. Abdullahi said the arrangement was expected to create further employment opportunities for young people and women in Nasarawa. He added that the state would receive $2 million immediately upon signing, with additional revenues expected under the agreement. A representative of Diamond New Energy, David Siong, said the company remained committed to expanding its operations in Nasarawa, including local processing of resources, job creation and supporting economic development in host communities. The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Isaac Danladi, also presented copies of a deed of assignment transferring the mining rights and interests of Nasarawa Mining Company within 3.5 mining cadastral units in Endo, Nasarawa Local Government Area, to Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited.

China has approved a RMB200 million grant to support Nigeria’s economic development and the implementation of projects agreed upon by both governments.   Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, disclosed this on Wednesday during a meeting with the Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Ahmed. Yu said the grant forms part of China’s continued support for Nigeria’s national development and economic growth. He noted that China-Nigeria relations have remained at the forefront of China-Africa ties since the two countries established diplomatic relations 55 years ago. According to the ambassador, the China-Nigeria Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has entered a new phase of high-quality development under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. Yu said both countries had maintained close communication and coordination while working to implement agreements reached by their leaders, as well as the outcomes of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit. He added that China and Nigeria would continue working to ensure that the benefits of their cooperation reach citizens in both countries. Responding, Ahmed thanked the Chinese government for its continued support for Nigeria’s economic and social development. He described the grant as evidence of China’s commitment to Nigeria and a reflection of the strong relationship between the two countries. The Permanent Secretary assured that Nigeria would make effective use of the grant and work with China to implement agreements reached by both governments. He added that Nigeria would continue strengthening its relationship with China to ensure the partnership delivers greater benefits to the people.