Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — In what could become one of Nigeria’s most impactful industrialization moves, the Federal Government has thrown its weight behind the establishment of Africa’s largest, rare earth and critical minerals processing plant in Nasarawa State, projecting the creation of over 10,000 new jobs and a robust transfer of technical skills to Nigerians.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, who announced the federal endorsement of the project, led by Hasetins Commodities Ltd, said it offers a rare opportunity to unlock Nigeria’s mineral wealth for domestic value creation, not just raw exports.
“This is not just an investment in infrastructure, it is an investment in people. We are looking at over 10,000 new jobs for Nigerians. That’s 10,000 families, 10,000 futures, and a significant boost to local economies. That is the kind of impact this administration is committed to.”
He emphasized that the project aligns directly with President Bola Tinubu’s vision for value addition, skills development, and economic diversification, moving Nigeria away from the historic “dig and ship” model that has kept Africa on the margins of global resource value chains.
“We must stop exporting poverty and importing prosperity. With this project, we are shifting from pit-to-port to production and processing. We’re creating jobs, building expertise, and driving real industrial transformation.”
Alake lauded Prince Jide Jidayi, CEO of Hasetins Commodities Ltd, for what he described as “forward-thinking investment and strategic alignment” with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our appreciation goes to Prince Jidayi and his team for their foresight. They understand that minerals alone don’t make a nation wealth, what we do with them does.”
The project, beyond its employment capacity, is expected to drive skills transfer, local content development, and technology integration in Nigeria’s mining ecosystem, particularly in the critical minerals and clean energy value chain.
Alake assured that the Federal Government would provide full institutional support to ensure the project’s success, calling it a key component in the administration’s long-term strategy for industrial self-reliance.
“This isn’t just about Nasarawa. This is a national industrial leap. We will deploy every available institutional mechanism to back this project. This is how we achieve our national objectives, job-led growth, local processing, and global competitiveness.”
The announcement comes amid Nigeria’s wider efforts to attract transformational FDI in the solid minerals sector, especially as demand rises globally for rare earths and strategic materials used in electronics, renewable energy, and defense industries.
