In Nigeria, Climate Home found that one of the country’s first lithium processing plants has struggled to deliver on its early promises, highlighting the challenges the West African nation faces in reaping the benefits of the global transition from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources.

In Kaduna State, where a lithium processing plant was inaugurated in 2024 as a joint venture between the Kaduna Mining Development Company (KMDC) and Chinese firm Ming Xin Mineral Separation Nigeria Ltd, local residents report unmet promises of jobs, infrastructure, and community development. Despite the plant being celebrated as a flagship project, it remains only partially operational, with little transparency about its lithium sources and growing concerns over pollution and lack of community engagement.

In a video statement shared with Climate Home, KMDC’s managing director Shuaibu Bello said the plant would create 1,500 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs. But during a visit to the site in March, only 17 local youths were employed to work in roles such as security guards, one employee told Climate Home. His special assistant Suleiman added that a committee is being set up to oversee the delivery of community benefits, but did not spell out what the agreement with the Kangimi community entails.