Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has performed the groundbreaking for a $400 million rare earth and critical metals processing plant in Uke, Karu Local Government Area, a landmark investment poised to establish Nigeria as a strategic player in global technology, clean energy and defence industries.

The plant, owned by Hasetins Commodities Limited, will be the largest of its kind in Africa, with a processing capacity of 12,000 metric tons. The Governor, who joined the ceremony virtually from South Africa where he is attending the G-20 Summit, described the project as a “historic milestone” in the state’s industrialization drive.

“I congratulate you on this wonderful work that would bring development to our state,” Sule said, noting that the facility will pioneer domestic processing of rare earth elements and critical metals such as platinum, uranium and chromium. He added that his deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, represented him physically at the event.

“This is a huge investment that we should all be proud of the government and good people of Nasarawa,” Sule stressed.

Deputy Governor Akabe said the facility will have far-reaching economic implications, explaining that rare earth minerals like tungsten, tin, coltan and tantalum are indispensable in electric vehicles, medical equipment, powerful magnets and advanced manufacturing.

“The potential is enormous. This investment will transform Nasarawa into a hub for high-technology production,” he said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to sustaining a secure, investor-friendly environment.

A Federal Government delegation also attended, including the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund, Fatima Umaru Shinkafi; and the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Henry Dele Alake some of whom joined virtually. They hailed the project as a masterstroke in unlocking Nigeria’s mineral wealth and accelerating industrial diversification.

Managing Director and CEO of Hasetins Commodities Limited, Prince Jidayi Ijudigal, said the company is driving a $400 million foreign direct investment enabled by recent mining sector reforms that boosted investor confidence, including streamlined licensing and deployment of mining marshals.

Beyond the Uke plant, he said Hasetins will introduce regional separation facilities and support artisanal miners with training and equipment to ensure inclusive economic growth.

The project is expected to generate more than 10,000 jobs and propel Nasarawa and Nigeria into the global critical minerals market, powering a new era of economic expansion and technological advancement. (AriseNews TV)